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VME  GEORGE  NUGENT  HOM& 
L^>v^  JOR  BAPTISTS. 


T.  M.  SHANAFEL,T,  D.  D. 


TUB 


BAPTIST   HISTORY 


OK 


SOUTH  DAKOTA, 


BY 

X.  ]Vl./^HANAKKIvTr,  D.  13., 

State  Superintendent  of  Missions. 


WITH  AN  INTRODUCTION  BY 

O.  A.  W^ILLIAIVIS,  D.  D. 


Published  by  the 

SOUTH  DAKOTA  BAPTIST  CONVENTION. 

BROWN  A  SAENQER,   PTRS.,  SIOUX  FALLS. 


Copyrigtited,   iSqq,  \-yy 

X.  ]VI.  SHANAKKLT. 


Copyright  Transferred  to  the  South  Dakota  Baptist  Convention. 


CONTENTS. 

PAGES. 

Introduction 5-10 

Preface -« .1 11-14 

Chapter  I. 
Dakota  Territory  . 15-25 

Chapter  II. 
South  Dakota 26-32 

Chapter  III. 
Early  Beg-inning-s 33-47 

Chapter  IV. 
Prog-ress  of  the  Work 48-59 

Chapter  V. 
The  Last  Decade 60-73 

Chapter  VI. 
The  First  Baptist  Missionaries 74-85 

Chapter  VII. 

Rev.  J.  E.  Rockwood 86-95 

Chapter  VIII. 
Chaplain  G.  D.  Crocker  - 96-101 

Chapter  IX. 
Rev.  Georg-e  W.  Freeman 102-109 

Chapter  X. 
Rev.  E.  H.  Hurlbutt 110-112 

Chapter  XI. 
Rev.  J.  J.  Mclntire 113-121 

Chapter  XII. 
Rev.  William  T.  Hill 122-126 


ivi6^1307 


4  CONTENTS. 

PAGES 

Chapter  XIII. 
Rev.  V.  B.  Conklin 127-130 

Chapter  XIV. 
Rev.  J.  P.  Coffman 331-139 

Chapter  XV. 
Rev.  G.  S.  Cleveng-er 140  145 

Chapter  XVI. 
The  Black  Hills 146-161 

Chapter  XVII. 

Scandinavian  Baptists 162-185 

Chapter  XVIII. 
German  and  Russian  Baptists 186-108 

Chapter  XIX. 
Associations 199-209 

Chapter  XX. 
The  State  Convention 210-216 

Chapter  XXI. 
Relation  to  Missionary  Societies  -  -    217-227 

Chapter  XXII. 

Sioux  Falls  College 228-237 

Chapter  XXIII. 

The  Dakota  or  Sioux  Indians 238-244 

Chapter  XXIV. 

Statistical  Review  -  - 245-267 

Appendix. 


INTRODUCTION. 

This  g-eneration  is  living-  in  a  epoch  of  history  mak- 
ing". The  United  States  census  of  1890  revealed  facts 
respecting-  the  material  g-rowth  and  development  of  this 
country  to  which  there  has  been  no  parallel  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  world.  Invention  has  multiplied  many  fold 
man's  capacity  and  power  for  work.  By  the  applica- 
tion of  these  inventions  to  the  farm  and  to  the  factory, 
to  commerce  and  to  transportation,  this  g-rowth  has 
been  made  possible.  When  the  second  half  of  the 
century  now  drawing-  to  a  close  beg-an,  the  vast  reg-ion 
known  as  the  Mississippi  valley  was  for  the  most  part 
the  hunting-  g-round  of  the  red  man,  and  the  home  of  the 
buffalo  and  the  antelope.  Under  the  industrious  hand 
of  the  pioneer  settler,  the  desert  has  been  made  to 
blossom  as  the  rose. 

In  1850  the  population  of  the  twelve  prairie  states, 
including-  Ohio,  Indiana,  Michig-an,  Illinois  and  Mis- 
souri, was  5,400,000;  in  1890  it  was  22,362,000.  During- 
this  period  of  forty  years,  the  vir-g-in  soil  in  these 
twelve  states  was  chang-ed  into  productive  farms,  at 
the  rate  of  13,000  acres  per  day.  Two-thirds  of  the 
g-rain  produced,  and  of  the  live  stock  raised,  are  found 
in  these  twelve  states.  Their  development  in  manufac- 
turing- interests  has  not  been  less  marvellous.  In  1850 
they  reported  111,000  operatives  earning-  $20,000,000  in 
wag-es.     In  1890  there  were  1,407,000  operatives  earn- 


6  INTRODUCTION. 

ing-  $672,000,000  in  wages,  and  turning-  out  manufac- 
tured products  to  the  amount  of  $3,000,000,000.  The 
railroads  of  these  twelve  states  exceed,  in  the  number 
of  miles,  the  ag-g-reg-ate  railroads  of  Prance,  Germany, 
Russia  and  Austria.  The  increase  of  wealth  in  this 
period  has  been  at  the  rate  of  $190,000,000  per  annum. 
The  wealth  of  these  states  multiplied  six  fold  in  thirty 
years,  while  it  only  doubles  in  fifty  years  in  Great 
Britain. 

In  1860  the  first  wheat  was  shipped  from  the  north- 
west. There  were  between  six  hundred  and  seven 
hundred  bag-s,  not  enoug-h  to  make  a  barg-e  load.  In 
1895  the  Great  Northern  Railway  alone  carried 
65,000,000  bushels. 

Between  the  years  1870  and  1892  there  were  ex- 
pended in  the  construction  of  railroads  between  Lake 
Superior  and  Pug-et  Sound,  as  far  south  as  the  south- 
ern line  of  Minnesota,  including-  South  Dakota,  $400,- 
000,000.  The  children  of  this  world  showed  much 
wisdom  in  their  g-eneration.  Can  we  say  as  much  re- 
specting- the  children  of  lig-ht?  Has  the  King-dom  of 
Christ  in  this  reg-ion  made  corresponding-  prog-ress? 
Has  the  moral  and  relig-ious  sentiment  of  the  nation 
kept  pace  with  its  industrial  and  commercial  enter- 
prise? 

At  the  present  time  expansion  is  the  inevitable  des- 
tiny of  the  nation.  As  the  result  of  the  war  with 
Spain,  she  is  called  upon. to  solve  new  problems  and  to 
meet  new  responsibilities.  What  shall  be  the  watch- 
word of  the  church  in  this  crisis?  Shall  it  not  be, 
"The  Islands  of  the  Sea  for  Christ?"  God  has  opened 
the  door  of  opportunity  to  christianize  the  dwellers  of 
these  islands.  Dare  we  refuse  to  g-o  up  and  possess 
them? 


INTRODUCTION.  7 

Our  fathers,  endowed  with  almost  a  seer's  vision, 
foresaw  the  coming-  millions  who  were  to  occupy  the 
fertile  prairies  of  the  west.  They  recog-nized  it  as  the 
duty  of  the  hour  to  carry  the  gospel  to  the  reg-ions  be- 
yond, and  to  org-anize  and  plant  churches  in  the  new 
settlements.  The  g-rowth  of  the  Baptist  denomination 
and  the  dissemination  of  Baptist  principles  show  how 
wisely  and  faithfully  they  did  their  work.  Shall  their 
children  be  less  faithful  to  their  inherited  trust? 

In  1870  South  and  North  Dakota,  then  a  territory, 
had  two  Baptist  churches.  Today  the  state  of  South 
Dakota  has  106  churches,  and  5,835  members.  In  1870 
the  Baptists  of  the  United  States  numbered^09,958; 
today  they  number  over  4,000,000.  In  1790  the  Bap- 
tists constituted  one  in  sixty  of  the  population.  In 
1840  it  was  one  in  twenty-nine  of  the  population;  in 
1870,  one  in  twenty-seven;  in  1898,  approximately  one 
in  every  seventeen.  Pig-ures  like  these  reveal  to  us 
the  fact  that  America  has  -been  a  fruitful  soil  for  the 
propag-ation  of  Baptist  principles,  and  that  the  work  of 
our  denomination  has  been  more  productive  of  results 
here  than  in  any  part  of  the  world.  Students  of 
American  history  have  recog-nized  the  influence  of 
these  principles  in  the  establishment  of  our  g-overn- 
ment,  and  in  the  formation  of  our  institutions.  Re- 
lig-ious  liberty,  and  the  separation  of  church  and 
state,  principles  advocated  and  defended  at  one  time 
exclusively  by  Baptists,  have  been  the  corner-stone  of 
the  republic. 

Baptists,  therefore,  should  be  pre-eminently  enthusi- 
astic and  ag-g-ressive  in  the  work  of  evang-elizing-  our 
composite  population.  While  no  part  of  the  world 
should  be  neg-lected,  the  conditions  which  exist  in  the 
new  world  should  prove  an  encourag-ement  and  an  in- 


8  Introduction. 

spiration  to  the  greatest  sacrifice  and  the  most  heroic 
effort  in  seeking-  the  evang-elization  of  our  own  country. 
Home  missions  should  be  prosecuted  with  earnestness, 
as  a  matter  of  self-protection  and  self-preservation. 
Christianity  is  the  chief  bulwark  of  the  nation.  Our 
g-overnment  and  our  institutions  will  be  safe  in  the 
hands  of  Christian  people.  Ivet  men  in  authority  be 
g-overned  by  the  spirit  of  Christ  and  the  principles  of 
the  g-ospel,  and  corruption  in  hig-h  places,  or  at  the 
ballot  box,  will  no  long-er  threaten  to  subvert  the  in- 
teg-rity  of  the  nation.  Rulers  and  the  ruled  will  seek 
the  g-reatest  gfood  of  the  g-reatest  number.  In  no  other 
way  than  by  the  application  of  these  principles  can  the 
social  questions  that  confront  us  be  rig-htly  solved. 

America  should  be  saved  not  alone  for  its  own  sake, 
but  for  the  sake  of  the  world.  Matthew  Arnold  says, 
"  Ainerica  holds  the  future."  Prof.  Hopkins  says, 
"America  Christianized  means  the  world  Christian- 
ized." Alexander  Hamilton  says,  "It  is  ours  to  be 
either  the  g-rave  in  which  the  hopes  of  the  world  shall 
be  entombed,  or  the  pillar  of  cloud  that  shall  pilot  the 
race  onward  to  immortal  g-lory."  In  the  planting-  of 
this  Protestant  Christian  nation  on  this  continent,  we 
can  trace  the  divine  hand  as  truly  as  in  the  call  of 
Abraham  and  the  settlement  of  the  Hebrews  in  Canaan. 
As  it  was  the  purpose  of  God  that  the  Hebrews  should 
become  the  channel  throug-h  which  blessing-s  should 
flow  to  all  the  families  of  the  earth,  is  it  not  as  truly 
His  purpose  that  America  should  be  the  channel 
throug-h  which  the  blessing-s  of  the  g-ospel  should  flow 
to  other  nations?  Can  we  not  see  His  purpose  in  its 
preservation  to  Protestant  Christianity? 

When  the  pilg-rim  fathers  reached  the  shores  of  New 
Eng-land,  Spain  was  mistress  of  the  seas.     Her  citizens 


INTRODUCTION.  9 

were  the  pioneer  explorers  in  all  lands.  Her  sovereignty 
extended  over  all  of  South  America  except  Brazil,  over 
all  Central  America,  over  all  the  land  bordering-  on  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico,  over  all  the  land  west  of  the  Mississippi 
now  included  within  the  United  States,  and  over  the 
Florida  peninsula.  Had  anyone  in  the  early  history  of 
this  country  attempted  to  forecast  the  nature  and 
character  of  the  civilization  that  should  control  it,  he 
would  have  said  that  Latin  Catholicism  rather  than 
Ang-lo-Saxon  Protestantism  would  have  been  the  domi- 
nant element.  But  what  are  the  facts  today?  The 
sovereig^nty  of  Spain  has  been  driven  out  of  the  new 
world.  Here,  without  the  support  of  the  state,  has 
been  built  the  most  distinctively  Protestant  nation  on 
the  face  of  the  earth.  On  what  other  principle  can  we 
explain  this  marvelous  reversal  of  that  which  seemed 
inevitable,  except  that  God  purposed  it,  and  that  He 
purposed  it  for  the  sake  of  the  world. 

One  of  the  chief  factors  in  producing"  the  civilization 
which  we  now  enjoy  has  been  the  work  of  the  mission- 
ary in  preaching-  the  'g-ospel,  and  planting*  the  church  in 
the  new  settlements.  To  no  class  of  men  does  the 
country  owe  a  g-reater  debt  of  g-ratitude  than  to  the 
pioneer  preachers.  The  historian  of  today,  who  will 
with  care,  and  without  bias,  record  the  story  of  these 
relig-ious  beg-inning-s,  of  the  hardships,  sacrifices  and 
heroism  of  Christian  workers,  will  render  to  coming* 
g*enerations  a  noble  service.  This  work  can  be  done  at 
no  other  time  so  well  as  while  the  actors  who  played  so 
prominent  a  part  in  the  laying*  of  these  foundations  are 
still  with  us.  With  them  will  pass  away  a  knowledg*e 
of  facts  and  incidents,  of  suffering*  and  devotion,  that 
oug*ht  to  be  preserved  as  a  priceless  heritag*e. 

*'Tell  it  to  the  generation  following."     The  task  is 


10  INTRODUCTION. 

not  an  easy  one.  There  are  many  difficulties.  In  these 
newer  states  the  population  is  unsettled;  it  is  con- 
stantly chang-ing-  and  shifting-.  Many  churches  which, 
at  the  time  of  their  org-anization,  g-ave  promise  of  g-rowth 
and  usefulness,  in  the  course  of  a  few  years  became  ex- 
tinct, and  their  records  are  lost.  Even  where  the 
records  have  been  preserved  (often  without  much  care, 
and  with  little  reg-ard  to  their  importance)  it  is  no  small 
task  to  examine  and  sift  them,  and  out  of  the  mass  to 
g'ather  and  preserve  that  which  is  to  be  of  value  to 
those  coming-  after  us. 

I  cong-ratulate  the  Baptists  of  South  Dakota  that  in  this 
state  the  work  has  fallen  into  the  hands  of  one  so  emi- 
nently fitted  for  the  task.  Rev.  T.  M.  Shanafelt,  D.  D., 
is  not  only  intimately  acquainted  with  the  work  and  the 
workers,  but  has  been  for  years  their  leader  in  it.  He 
not  only  knows  what  has  been  done,  but  he  has  also  had 
a  prominent  part  in  the  doing-.  This  volume  is  a  valu- 
able contribution  to  the  history  of  Baptists  in  America. 
Similar  work  should  be  done  at  once  in  other  states. 
"Thou  shalt  remember  all  the  way  which  the  Lord  thy 
God  hath  led  thee." 

O.  A.  WILLIAMS. 
Minneaj)olis^  Jan,  lo^  i8gg. 


PREFACE. 

The  object  of  this  volume  is  to  give  a  record  of  the 
planting-  and  training-  of  Baptist  churches  on  what  was 
not  long"  ag"o  the  frontier,  and  to  tell  the  story  of  the 
trials  and  experiences  of  some  of  the  pioneers  who 
have  been  helping-  to  mould  the  character  and  destiny 
of  a  new  state..  It  has  been  deemed  advisable  to  do 
this  while  early  records  are  still  preserved,  and  before  all 
of  the  early  actors  in  the  events  recorded  have  passed 
away. 

Too  little  attention  is  g'iven  to  collecting*  and  preserv- 
ing- the  records  of  past  events,  before  they  become 
scattered  and  lost,  and  securing-  oral  or  written  state- 
ments of  the  experiences  of  those  who  have  shared  in 
making-  the  beg-inning-s  of  history.  Our  work  is  too 
intimately  connected  with  the  foundational  work  that 
preceded  it,  to  justify  us  in  ig-noring-  the  past.  "Other 
men  labored,  and  ye  are  entered  into  their  labors." 
We  labor  more  intellig-ently,  and  accomplish  more,  when 
we  know  how  our  predecessors  wroug-ht,  and  what  they 
achieved.  "Thou  shalt  remember  all  the  way  which 
the  Lord  thy  God  led  thee."  We  are  to  know  how  he 
led  the  fathers  in  their  day,  and  in  the  lig-ht  of  that 
knowledg-e  we  can  have  a  clearer  understanding-  of  the 
way  of  duty  in  our  own  times,  and  see  how  his  Provi- 
dential leading-  throug-h  the  trying-  scenes  of  the  past, 
has  been  preparing-  the  way  for  our  labors  and  achieve- 
ments in  the  present. 

The  ag-e  in  which  we  live  is  made  richer  by  the  expe- 
riences and  triumphs  of  other  days.  They  come  to  us 
as   a   sacred   leg-acy,    which   should   be   treasured  and 


12  PREFACE. 

utilized  by  us,  while  we  are  endeavoring-  to  accomplish 
our  mission.  Ere  long- we  must  pass  them  on  to  others, 
enriched  by  the  results  of  what  we  have  done.  No  ag-e 
can  live  for  itself  alone.  It  is  indissolubly  connected 
with  those  which  precede  and  follow.  We  need  the 
records  of  failures  and  achievements  in  the  past,  since 
it  serves  us  the  double  purpose  of  a  caution  and  a 
stimulus,  while  we  are  on  the  stag-e  of  action,  perform- 
ing- our  part  in  the  drama  of  life.  And  this  record  of 
what  our  fathers  did  or  failed  to  do,  we  must  transmit 
to  those  who  come  after  us.  It  is  a  history  of  how  God 
has  been  pleased  to  operate,  throug-h  his  people,  from 
ag-e  to  ag-e,  in  the  seeming-ly  slow  but  effective  and  sure 
plan  to  benefit  mankind  and  evang-elize  the  world.  Each 
g-eneration  is  to  be  a  revealer  to  its  successor,  of  the 
thing's  that  have  g-one  before.  "One  g-eneration  shall 
praise  thy  works  to  another,  and  shall  declare  thy 
mig-hty  acts." 

The  author  realizes  that  he  is  practically  a  pioneer  in 
the  important  work  of  collecting-,  and  preparing-  for  pub- 
lication, the  materials  available  for  a  state  denomina- 
tional history.  It  has  rarely  been  attempted  in  any  of 
the  older  eastern  states.  There  the  abundant  wealth 
of  material,  once  available,  if  it  had  been  utilized, 
would  now  be  of  incalculable  value,  to  the  denomina- 
tion and  to  the  world.  With  the  sing-le  exception  of 
the  Baptist  history  of  Iowa,  no  state  in  the  west  has 
yet  issued  a  historical  volume,  g-iving-  the  record  of  the 
trials  and  triumphs  of  Baptists  in  the  development  of 
the  g-reat  northwest.  The  new  state  of  South  Dakota 
thus  stands  comparatively  alone  in  the  Derformance  of 
a  duty  which  it  owes  to  its  pioneer  missionaries,  to  its 
present  workers,  and  to  the  Baptist  denomination  at 
larg-e.     With  the   timidity   and    modesty   becoming-  to 


PREFACE.  13 

youth,  it  takes  its  place  as  a  leader  in  a  movement 
where  it  oug-ht  to  have  had  many  examples. 

At  the  annual  meeting-  of  the  South  Dakota  Baptist 
Convention,  in  1889,  the  writer  of  this  history  was  ap- 
pointed Baptist  historian,  and  custodian  of  historical 
papers  and  documents.  It  was  necessary,  first,  to  se- 
cure the  preparation  of  such  sketches  as  were  desired. 
Realizing-  that  one  of  the  g-reatest  difficulties  of  the  his- 
torian is  securing-  the  needed  materials,  an  effort  was 
made  to  obtain  complete  files  of  the  proceeding's  of  the 
associations  and  of  the  state  convention,  and  per- 
suade the  surviving-  pioneers  to  prepare  historical  pa- 
pers, g-iving-  their  knowledg-e  of  events  as  they  wroug-ht 
them,  with  interesting-  reminiscences  of  the  experi- 
ences in  which  they  shared  in  the  early  days.  Several 
papers  of  this  kind  have  been  secured.  Since  the 
story  of  past  events  is  always  most  interesting-  when 
told  by  those  who  had  a  part  in  creating-  them,  they  are 
published  in  this  volume  as  valuable  and  helpful  contri- 
butions to  the  Baptist  history  of  South  Dakota. 

While  the  work  of  collecting-  materials  has  been  in 
prog-ress  for  several  years,  the  preparation  of  the  vol- 
ume for  the  press  was  delayed  until  its  publication 
seemed  to  be  necessary.  This  has  now  been  done  at  the 
earnest  request  of  the  South  Dakota  Baptist  Convention. 
It  is  published  by  the  Convention.  The  manuscript 
and  copyright  have  been  transferred  to  it  as  an  expres- 
sion of  the  author's  appreciation  of  the  unbroken  har- 
mony that  has  prevailed  during-  the  nearly  eleven  years 
of  his  official  relation  to  the  Convention,  as  state  su- 
perintendent of  missions,  and  the  uniform  kindness 
and  co-operation  of  pastors  and  churches  throug-hout 
the  state. 

In  the  closing-  statistical  chapter,  and  elsewhere,  are 


14  PREFACE. 

g-iven  a  number  of  important  statistical  tables.  With 
a  view  to  assisting-  South  Dakota  Baptist  readers  of  this 
book  in  the  coming*  years,  to  make  convenient  compari- 
sons in  the  growth  of  our  denomination,  between  their 
standpoint  and  that  of  the  present,  some  summary  sta- 
tistical tables  are  published  in  the  appendix,  and  also 
tables  of  anniversaries  of  the  associations,  now  and 
hitherto  existing,  and  of  the  state  convention. 

The  field  of  operations  of  which  this  history  aims 
to  be  a  correct  record  is  the  state  of  South  Dakota. 
But  since  the  beginning  of  Baptist  missionary  work 
upon  it  in  1864,  it  continued  for  twenty-five  years,  or 
until  1889,  to  be  the  southern  half  of  Dakota  Territory. 
It  has  enjoyed  the  rights  and  privileg-es  of  statehood  for 
a  period  of  only  ten  years.  We  have  been  looking  back- 
ward over  a  past  record.  Its  history  is  here  recorded. 
From  this  dividing  ridge  between  the  past  and  the  fu- 
ture, we  strain  our  eyes  to  see  if  we  can  catch  a  vision 
of  what  is  beyond  us.  We  can  only  obey  the  command 
of  Him  who  said:  "Speak  unto  the  children  of  Israel, 
that  they  GO  forward."  For  what  has  been  accom- 
plished we  thank  God.  As  citizens  we  rejoice  in  the 
peace,  and  plenty,  and  prosperity  of  our  state.  As 
Baptists  we  rejoice  in  the  prog-ress  we  have  made  as  a 
denomination,  and  that  we  have  a  record  of  success  and 
growth  of  which  we  need  not  be  ashamed.  Treasuring 
these  records  of  what  God  has  done  for  us  and  through 
us  hitherto,  we  now  hand  them  down  to  posterity. 
Thus  we  endeavor  to  obey  the  Divine  injunction: 
"Walk  about  Zion,  and  go  round  about  her;  tell  the 
towers  thereof.  Mark  ye  well  her  bulwarks;  consider 
her  palaces;  THAT  YE  MAY  tell  it  to  the  genera- 
tion  FOLLOWING." 

T.  M.  SHANAFELT. 
Huron^  S,  D.^  Jaitiiary  12^  i8gg. 


CHAPTER  I. 


DAKOTA  TERRITORY. 

The  Baptist  history  of  South  Dakota  dates  from  the 
earliest  known  record  of  missionary  work,  beg-inning- 
in  1864.  Relig-ious  and  secular  history,  having-  a  nearly 
common  starting-  point,  are  to  be  traced  along-  parallel 
lines.  To  follow  the  prog-ress  and  g-rowth  of  Baptist 
churches,  beg-inning-  with  the  preliminary  work  of 
L.  P.  Judson,  and  the  pioneer  labors  of  J.  E.  Rock- 
wood,  G.  W.  Freeman  and  others,  will  require  a  sketch 
of  most  of  the  period  of  the  history  of  Dakota  Territory. 
A  correct  understanding-  of  the  work  that  has  been 
accomplished,  renders  necessary  a  description  of  the 
field  of  operations.  This  was  orig-inally  Dakota  Terri- 
tory, but  it  is  now  the  state  of  South  Dakota. 

In  1803,  President  JefPerson  purchased  from  Prance 
an  immense  reg-ion  of  country  along-  the  Mississippi 
and  Missouri  rivers,  extending-  from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico 
northward  to  the  British  Possessions,  and  westward  to 
the  Rocky  Mountains.  From  this  vast  territory,  which 
in  the  early  part  of  the  century  was  thoug-ht  to  be  of 
little  value,  have  been  formed  several  of  the  most  pro- 
ductive and  promising-  states  in  the  west  and  north- 
west. It  was  at  first  called  the  Louisiana  Territory. 
It  soon  after  formed  a  part  of  the  Missouri  Territory, 
and  was  later  annexed  to  Indiana  Territory.  As  new 
states  were  formed  it  underwent  several   chang-es   of 


16  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

name.  After  Indiana  and  Illinois  were  admitted  to  the 
Union,  it  formed  a  part  of  Michig-an  Territory,  which 
then  included  Wisconsin,  Minnesota,  and  all  the 
country  east  of  the  Missouri  river.  When  Michig-an 
became  a  state  in  1837,  it  was  included  in  Wisconsin 
Territory,  and  after  Wisconsin  reached  the  dig-nity  of 
statehood  in  1848,  it  was  attached  to  Minnesota  Terri- 
tory. After  Minnesota  became  one  of  the  states  of  the 
Union,  May  11,  1858,  the  country  afterwards  known  as 
Dakota  was  outside  of  any  territory,  and  had  no  recog-- 
nized  existence  until  Dakota  Territory  was  established, 
March  2,  1861.  It  was  occupied  only  by  Indians.  The 
country  over  which  they  roamed  came  to  be  known  as 
Dakota  from  the  g-reat  confederation  of  Indian  tribes 
called  the  Dakotas. 

Dakota  Territory  came  into  existence  by  act  of  con- 
g-ress,  approved  by  President  Buchanan  March  2,  1861. 
It  then  extended  as  far  west  as  the  Rocky  Mountains. 
Its  southern  boundary  was  what  are  now  the  states  of 
Nebraska  and  Wyoming-,  on  the  north  line  were  the 
British  Possessions,  and  on  the  east  the  states  of  Min- 
nesota and  Iowa.  A  few  years  later  there  were  formed 
from  it  Wyoming-,  Montana  and  a  portion  of  Idaho  Ter- 
ritories. The  present  western  boundary  of  what  was 
Dakota  Territory  are  the  states  of  Montana  and  Wy- 
oming-. 

It  is  interesting-  to  notice  how  a  dozen  states,  some 
of  them  larg-er  in  area  than  most  of  the  empires  and 
king-doms  of  Europe,  were  carved  out  of  the  orig-inal 
"Louisiana  Purchase"  of  1803.  The  so-called  states- 
men who,  at  the  beg-inning-  of  the  century,  opposed  the 
purchase  of  so  vast  a  territory,  on  the  g-round  that  it 
was  a  desert  country,  and  useless,  did  not  have  the 
ability  to  foresee  that  before  its  close,  a  population  of 


^± 


x-t 


Vbs»«(* 


i 


-^. 


1> 


FIRST   BAPTIST    CKUKCH,    V JiKMll.I.10N. 

CnUKCII    ORGANIZED    IN    LOG    SCHOOL    HOUSE   FEBRUARY    l6,    1868. 
FIRST    HOUSE   OF    WORSHIP   DEDICATED   JUNE   4,    1872. 


FIRST    BAPTIST    CHURCH,    VERMILLION, 

PRESENT    HOUSE   OK    WORSHIP    DEDICATED    MAY    iS,    1S9O. 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  17 

thirteen  millions  of  people  would  be  occupying-  the 
states  of  Louisiana,  Arkansas,  Kansas,  Nebraska, 
Iowa,  Minnesota,  South  Dakota,  North  Dakota,  Idaho, 
Montana,  Wyoming-  and  Indian  Territory  and  Okla- 
homa. What  were  supposed,  in  an  early  day  to  be 
barren  wastes,  fit  only  for  wild  beasts  and  Indians,  have 
proved  to  be  fertile  plains  and  valleys,  and  the  "Great 
American  Desert"  of  the  early  histories  and  g-eog-ra- 
phies  has  become  a  source  of  incalculable  wealth  in 
the  products  of  the  field  and  of  the  mine. 

Dakota  Territory  was  larg-er  in  size  than  any  state  or 
territory  in  the  United  States,  except  Texas  and  Cali- 
fornia. Its  area  was  150,932  square  miles.  Its  g-reat- 
est  leng-th,  from  north  to  south,  was  four  hundred  and 
fifty  miles,  and  its  breadth,  from  east  to  west,  was 
three  hundred  and  eig-hty-five  miles.  With  the  excep- 
tion of  the  Black  Hills  on  the  west,  and  Turtle  Moun- 
tain on  the  north,  the  land  is  mainly  rolling-  prairie  and 
plain,  with  a  rich  and  productive  soil.  The  Indians, 
who  were  its  first  inhabitants,  for  more  than  two  hun- 
dred years  occupied  the  Black  Hills,  and  roved  over 
the  prairies  of  Dakota  comparatively  undisturbed  by 
white  men  until  within  the  last  g-eneration.  When  Da- 
kota Territory  was  org-anized  in  1861,  it  included  about 
thirty-two  thousand  Indians,  and  a  white  population  of 
about  two  thousand  ^ve  hundred. 

The  first  known  white  settler  was  a  French-Canadian 
trader,  who  established  a  trading*  post  at  Pembina,  in 
1780.  He  was  still  living-  there  at  the  time  of  the  visit 
of  Major  Long-'s  exploring-  expedition  in  1823.  In  1784, 
David  Thompson,  the  astronomer  and  scientific  repre- 
sentative of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company,  visited  the  valley 
of  the  Red  River  of  the  North,  and  other  rivers,  and 
ascertained   the   latitude    and    long-itude   of    Pembina. 


18  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

That  locality  and  the  country  further  north  and  east, 
early  in  the  century,  was  so  little  known  to  the  world 
that  it  w^as  referred  to  in  the  early  editions  of  Morse's 
geography  as  "an  unknown  country."  In  1805,  when 
Lieutenant  Zebulon  Pike  was  on  his  way  up  the  head- 
waters of  the  Mississippi  river,  to  explore  its  source,  on 
arriving-  at  Red  Lake  he  found  a  trading'  post,  established 
in  1788,  from  whose  flag-staff  was  still  floating-  the 
British  flag*.  The  first  building-  of  a  permanent  char- 
acter was  erected  in  1797,  by  a  Frenchman,  Charles 
Chabollier,  on  the  south  side  of  the  Pembina  river,  near 
its  junction  with  the  Red  River  of  the  North.  These 
were  the  fore-runners  of  representatives  of  the  Hudson 
Bay  Company,  and  several  British  and  American  Pur 
companies  which  were  established  near  the  close  of  the 
eig-hteenth  and  during-  the  early  years  of  the  nineteenth 
century.  Lord  Selkirk  built  a  fort  at  Pembina  during- 
the  war  of  1812.  Several  years  later  on  finding-  that  it 
was  on  the  American  side  of  the  international  bound- 
ary it  was  torn  down  and  rebuilt  on  British  territory. 
After  the  "Louisiana  Purchase"  in  1803,  it  was 
deemed  necessary  for  the  g-overnment  to  know  some- 
thing- of  the  character  and  value  of  its  possessions  in 
the  northwest.  The  Lewis  and  Clark  expedition  across 
the  continent,  which  was  sent  out  by  President  Jeffer- 
son, on  their  way  up  the  Missouri  river,  held  numerous 
conferences  with  the  various  Dakota  Indian  tribes,  and 
thus  obtained  the  first  g-eneral  information  concerning- 
their  number  and  condition.  This  was  in  1804-5-6.  In 
1832  the  American  Pur  Company,  founded  by  John 
Jacob  Astor,  for  the  protection  of  their  trading-  posts 
along-  the  Missouri  river  and  elsewhere,  caused  several 
forts  to  be  erected.  Port  Pierre  was  built  by  Pierre 
Choteau  in  1829;  about  the   same   time   Port    Lookout 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OP^  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  19 

was  erected  near  Chamberlain.  Both  of  these  ceased 
to  be  used  as  military  posts  in  1858.  More  than  fifty 
years  ag-o  several  trading-  establishments  were  located 
along-  the  James  river.  Previous  to  1830  the  only  facili- 
ties for  navig-ation  were  by  means  of  canoes  and  barg-es. 
During*  that  year  Pierre  Choteau  was  instrumental  in 
bringing-  up  the  Missouri  river,  as  far  as  Pierre,  the 
steamers  Antelope  and  Yellowstone. 

These  facts  are  mentioned  to  indicate  the  early  be- 
g-inning-s  of  immig-ration  and  civilization.  Prog-ress  in 
taking-  possession  of  a  country  so  fertile  and  so  full  of 
resources,  was  necessarily  slow  but  sure.  Numerous 
acts  of  hostility  by  Indians  g-ave  evidence  that  the 
orig-inal  inhabitants  resented  the  encroachments  of 
white  settlers  and  traders.  A  few  settlements  that 
started  were  abandoned,  but  here  and  there  little  com- 
munities of  hardy  and  courag-eous  pioneers  were  estab- 
lished. These  were  mainly  in  Yankton,  Clay,  Union 
and  Minnehaha  counties  in  the  southeastern  portion  of 
the  territory,  and  the  Pembina  settlement  in  the  north- 
east. 

According-  to  the  census  of  1860,  the  population  of 
the  territory,  not  including-  hostile  Indians,  was  only 
4,837,  and  of  these  2,261  were  Indians  not  sustaining- 
tribal  relations.  Repeated  Indian  raids,  especially 
along-  the  Sioux  river  in  1856-7-8,  convinced  the  early 
settlers  of  the  necessity  for  some  kind  of  org-anization 
which  would  g-ive  them  a  claim  on  the  g-eneral  g-overn- 
ment  for  protection. 

The  fact  has  been  already  shown  that  after  Minne- 
sota became  a  state.  May  11,  1858,  for  nearly  three 
years  Dakota  had  no  legal  existence  and  consequently 
no  recognized  government.  Notwithstanding  the 
weakness,  numerically,  of  the  white  population,  a  con- 


20  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

vention  was  held  at  Sioux  Palls,  September  18,  1858, 
various  localities  being-  represented.  It  was  decided 
to  form  a  provisional  territorial  organization,  and  an 
election  was  ordered  to  choose  members  of  a  territorial 
legislature.  Henry  Masters  as  president  of  the  coun- 
cil was  made  acting-  g-overnor,  and  A.  G.  Puller  was 
sent  as  deleg-ate  to  Washington,  with  a  memorial  asking 
Congress  to  establish  a  territqrial  government.  This 
movement  was  unsuccessful.  In  1859,  another  provi- 
sional legislature  was  elected.  W.  W.  Brookings  was 
chosen  governor  in  place  of  Henry  Masters,  deceased, 
and  J.  P.  Kidder  was  sent  as  delegate  to  Congress. 
Another  memorial  was  presented,  and  this  also  resulted 
in  failure. 

The  first  treaty  with  the  Dakota  Indians  was  made 
at  Traverse-de-Sioux  in  1851,  at  which  time  the  north- 
ern tribes  ceded  to  the  government  a  large  portion  of 
western  Minnesota,  and  also  a  narrow  strip  on  the  east 
side  of  what  is  now  South  Dakota,  between  the  Sioux 
river  and  the  state  line  of  Minnesota,  and  extending 
northward  along  the  western  shore  of  Big  Stone  Lake. 
The  next  important  treaty  was  consummated  April  19, 
1858.  At  this  time  the  Indians  were  prevailed  upon  to 
sell  to  the  government  a  territgry  equal  to  about  two- 
thirds  of  the  present  state  of  South  Dakota,  lying  east 
of  the  Missouri  river,  and  south  of  a  line  running  from 
the  north  end  of  Lake  Kampeska  westward  to  the  Mis- 
souri. In  consideration  of  this  cession  of  their  land, 
the  United  States  g-overnment  agreed  to  pay  to  the 
Indians  at  stated  times,  covering  a  period  of  fifty 
years,  an  amount  equal  to  $1,600,000,  and  the  Indians 
were  removed,  some  of  them  unwillingly,  to  their  res- 
ervations north  and  west. 

After  these  treaties,  which  encouraged  immig^ration 


THE  BAPTIST  HivSTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  21 

and  promised  greater  safety  to  settlers,  the  way  now 
seemed  to  be  open  for  another  movement  towards 
securing-  a  territorial  g-overnment.  Former  efforts  had 
been  unsuccessful.  A  convention  was  held  at  Yank- 
ton, commencing-  December  27,  1860,  and  soon  after  an 
earnest  memorial  to  Cong-ress  was  adopted,  January 
15,  1861.  A  bill  to  establish  Dakota  Territory  was 
passed  in  the  closing-  days  of  President  Buchanan's 
administration.   It  was  approved  by  him  March  2,  1861. 

One  of  the  first  official  acts  of  President  Lincoln  was 
the  appointment  of  territorial  officers,  including-  Wil- 
liam Jayne,  of  Illinois,  as  g-overnor.  At  the  beg-inning* 
of  his  .administration  Governor  Jayne  ordered  a  cen- 
sus of  the  territory  to  be  taken.  This  was  imperfectly 
done,  and  resulted  as  follows  :  Clay  and  Union  dis- 
tricts, 696 ;  Sioux  Palls  district,  40 ;  Bon  Homme  dis- 
trict, 269 ;  Yankton  district,  287 ;  Red  River  district, 
500.  Total,  1,776.  Of  these  560  were  half  breeds.  Of 
the  1,216  white  people,  757  were  males  and  459  were 
females.  Another  report,  which  w^as  unofficial,  made 
the  total  white  population  2,402,  and  the  total  white  and 
mixed  population  2,879.  The  following-  persons  served 
as  governors  of  Dakota  Territory :  William  Jayne, 
Newton  Edmunds,  A.  J*.  Paulk,  John  A.  Burbank,  John 
L.  Penning-ton,  William  A.  Howard,  N.  G.  Ordway, 
Gilbert  A.  Pierce,  Louis  K.  Church  and  A.  C.  Mellette. 

The  capital  of  the  territory  was  located  at  Yankton 
in  1861,  and  remained  there  until  it  was  removed  to 
Bismarck  in  1883.  The  first  two  or  three  sessions  of 
the  leg-islature  were  devoted  mainly  to  g-etting-  the 
machinery  of  the  territorial  g-overnment  in  operation, 
establishing  military  posts,  and  public  highways,  and 
providing  means  of  defense  against  Indian  depreda- 
tions.    These  continued  to  be  of  frequent  occurrence, 


22  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

and  kept  the  early  settlers  much  of  the  time  on  the 
defensive,  and  on  two  or  more  occasions,  caused  many 
of  them  to  abandon  their  new  homes  and  growing-  crops. 
In  1862,  two  companies  of  volunteer  cavalry  were  au- 
thorized by  the  Secretary  of  War  for  frontier  defense. 
These  companies,  which  were  commanded  by  Captains 
Nelson  Minor  and  William  Tripp,  were  kept  for  the 
protection  of  the  settlement  in  the  southern  portion  of 
the  territory.  In  1853,  after  the  massacre  at  New 
Ulm,  Minn.,  the  Indians  became  more  hostile.  Gen- 
eral Sully  was  sent  into  Dakota  with  a  force  of  nearly 
2,500  troops,  and  rendered  effective  service  in  holding- 
the  southern  tribes  in  check,  and  punishing  them 
severely.  Fort  Sully  was  built  by  his  command,  and 
it  was  continued  as  a  military  post  for  nearly  thirty 
years.  General  Sibley  was  also  sent  into  the  territory 
in  command  of  an  army  of  over  4,000  soldiers,  and  after 
several  successful  encounters  with  the  northern  tribes, 
they  were  compelled  to  submit  to  the  authority  of  the 
government. 

After  1866,  Indian  outbreaks  were  of  comparatively 
rare  occurrence,  and  peace  and  quietness  generally 
prevailed.  This  resulted  in  the  substantial  growth  of 
settlements  already  in  existence,  and  the  formation  of 
new  ones  in  various  localities.  The  population  rapidly 
increased,  especially  in  seven  or  eight  of  the  south- 
eastern countries.  According  to  the  census  of  1870 
the  total  population  of  the  territory  was  14,182. 

During  the  following  decade,  and  especially  near  its 
close,  the  immigration  to  Dakota  from  eastern  states 
and  foreign  countries  was  marvelous.  The  census  of 
1880  developed  the  fact  that  the  population  had  in- 
creased to  135,180.  At  the  close  of  1883  the  lowest 
estimate  was  250,000.     In  the  earlier  years,  with  the 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  23 

exception  of  Pembina  and  a  few  localities  along  the 
Red  river,  nearly  all  of  the  settlements  had  been  es- 
tablished in  the  southern  counties  of  the  territory. 
From  this  period  onward  many  of  the  northern  coun- 
ties were  rapidly  occupied  by  courag-eous  and  enter- 
prising- settlers.  Scores  of  thriving-  young-  cities  and 
villag'es  were  created,  and  for  several  years  they  had  a 
rapid  g-rowth.  Railroads  were  constructed,  churches 
and  school  houses  were  built,  and  all  the  sig-ns  of  pros- 
perity seemed  to  be  abundant. 

The  wonderful  increase  in  population  and  the  pos- 
session of  all  the  elements  of  strength  and  prosperity, 
led  the  people  to  desire  something-  better  than  a  terri- 
torial form  of  g-overnment.  The  territory  was  so 
larg-e  that  the  successful  administration  of  any  form  of 
ofovernment  was  difficult.  For  several  vears  there  was 
a  practically  unanimous  desire  for  the  division  of  the 
territory  and  admission  to  the  union  as  two  states. 
Efforts  and  appeals  for  the  accomplishment  of  this  end 
were  begun  in  1871,  and  several  times  renewed.  In 
1883  an  attempt  was  made  to  bring  about  a  division  of 
the  territory  and  the  admission  of  the  southern  half  of 
it  as  a  state.  Three  hundred  and  fifty  delegates  rep- 
resenting the  southern  half  of  the  counties  in  the  ter- 
ritory assembled  in  convention  at  Huron,  June  19, 1883, 
to  consider  the  needs  and  possibilities  of  statehood. 
This  resulted  in  the  calling  of  a  constitutional  conven- 
tion at  Sioux  Falls,  September  4,  at  which  time  a  care- 
fully prepared  constitution  was  approved  and  sub- 
mitted to  the  voters  of  the  proposed  new  state.  The 
result  of  this  election  was  the  adoption  of  the  constitu- 
tion by  a  majority  of  5,522,  out  of  a  total  vote  of 
19,150. 

The  portion  of  the  territory  out  of  which  it  was  pro- 


24  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

posed  to  form  the  new  state  was  practically  the  same 
as  that  which  is  included  in  the  present  state  of  South 
Dakota.  It  had  an  area  of  over  76,000  square  miles,  a 
population  of  200,000,  and  over  1,500  miles  of  railroad 
lines.  It  had  numerous  prosperous  cities  and  villag-es, 
and  there  were  among-  its  inhabitants  all  the  resources 
of  wealth,  energy  and  enterprise  necessary  to  consti- 
tute a  flourishing-  state.  The  appeal  to  cong-ress  was 
ig-nored  and  the  hopes  of  the  people  were  disappointed. 
The  question  of  statehood  had  become  one  of  supreme 
importance,  for  it  deeply  concerned  all  the  people  of 
the  territory.  The  persistent  failure  of  cong-ress  to 
admit  Dakota  into  the  union  either  as  one  state  or  two, 
was  the  result,  not  of  statesmanship,  but  of  partisan- 
ship. The  appeals  of  the  people  were  deliberately  dis- 
reg-arded,  and  they  were  denied  the  rig-hts  of  citizen- 
ship, thoug-h  they  had  long-  met  all  the  conditions  pre- 
requisite to  admission. 

After  the  failure  to  secure  recog-nition  in  1883,  the 
provisional  leg-islature,  elected  under  the  constitution 
that  had  been  adopted,  provided  for  holding-  a  constitu- 
tional convention,  September  8,  1885,  at  Sioux  Palls. 
The  constitution  submitted  by  that  convention  and 
soon  afterward  adopted,  is  substantially  the  same  as 
the  present  constitution  of  the  state  of  South  Dakota. 
A  legislature  was  elected  and  state  officers  chosen. 
The  legislature  met  in  Huron,  the  place  agreed  upon 
for  temporary  capital.  The  provisional  governor,  A. 
C.  Mellette,  presented  his  message,  bills,  were  passed 
in  the  interest  of  prospective  stjatehood,  and  G.  C. 
Moody  and  A.  C.  Edgerton  were  elected  United  States 
Senators.  This  eifort  to  secure  a  recognition  of  the 
rights  of  the  people  was  also  ignored.  Pour  years 
more  of  uncertainty  and  tedious  waiting  were  neces- 


DANEVII.L.E    BAPTIST    CHURCH    (Danish),    VIBORG. 

CHURCH    ORGANIZED    DECEMBER   31,    1S73. 

FIRST   HOUSE   OF   WORSHIP   DEDICATED  JUNK    14,    1878. 

DESTROYED    BY    FIRE   AVRII,   2,    1S89. 

PRESENT   HOUSE   OF   WORSHIP   DEDICATED   NOVEMBER    lO,    1889. 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  25 

sary  before  justice  was  done  to  a  long"  suffering"  and 
not  always  patient  people.  Relief  came  in  1889.  A 
bill  passed  both  houses  of  congress,  and  was  approved 
by  President  Cleveland  February  22,  1889,  by  which 
Dakota  Territory  was  divided,  and  the  necessary  con- 
ditions of  statehood  were  specified,  including"  the  elec- 
tion of  state  officers  and  the  adoption  of  a  constitution. 
These  conditions  having"  been  fully  met,  by  proclama- 
tion of  President  Harrison,  dated  November  2,  1889, 
the  two  states  of  South  Dakota  and  North  Dakota  were 
formally  admitted  into  the  Union. 


CHAPTER  II. 


SOUTH  DAKOTA 


The  history  of  Dakota  Territory,  briefly  summarized 
in  the  preceding-  chapter,  is  practically  the  history  of 
the  early  events  and  experiences  in  South  Dakota. 
The  first  settlements  in  the  territory  beg-an  in  the 
southeastern  portion  and  extended  in  a  northwesterly 
direction  along-  the  Missouri  river,  and  northward 
along-  the  valley  of  the  Sioux  river.  With  the  except- 
ion of  the  earlv  settlement  at  Pembina,  in  the  extreme 
northeast  corner  of  the  territory,  the  entire  northern 
portion  was  for  many  years  practically  unoccupied  by 
white  people.  A  few  resolute  pioneers  ventured  to 
settle  along-  the  fertile  valley  of  the  Red  River  of  the 
North,  but  the  entire  population  of  what  is  now  the 
state  of  North  Dakota,  did  not  exceed  five  hundred 
until  sometime  after  1870. 

On  the  division  of  the  territory  in  1889,  the  dividing- 
line  was  the  seventh  standard  parallel.  The  state  of 
South  Dakota  has  an  area  of  76,620  square  miles,  or  29, 
036,800  acres.  The  g-reatest  leng-th,  from  east  to  west, 
is  three  hundred  and  sixty  miles;  its  breath,  from 
north  to  south,  is  nearly  two  hundred  and  fifty  miles. 
Its  natural  divisions  are  the  valleys  of  the  Missouri, 
Sioux  and  James  rivers,  the  Sioux  Indian  reservation 
and  the  Black  Hills.  It  has  seventy-nine  counties; 
some  of  these  are  unusually  larg-e.      The  Black  Hills, 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  27 

occupying-  an  area  of  about  six  thousand  square  miles, 
are  located  on  the  west  of  the  state.  The  portion  of 
the  state  that  has  been  longest  settled  and  brought 
under  cultivation  is  the  eastern  half,  lying  east  of  the 
Missouri  river. 

Some  of  the  difficulties  and  dangers  connected  with 
the  early  settlement  of  South  Dakota  have  been  already 
mentioned.  Occasional  venturesome  explorers  g-ave  in- 
formation to  the  outside  world  of  the  boundless  prairies 
and  seemingly  fertile  soil  of  this  desirable  but  unoc- 
cupied portion  of  the  great  northwest.  Though  having* 
no  right  of  settlement,  for  the  title  of  the  land  was 
vested  in  the  Indians,  yet  little  bands  of  pioneers  began 
to  appear  along  the  borders,  and,  in  anticipation  of  the 
treaties  that  were  afterwards  made,  they  risked  the 
location  of  homes  on  the  frontier  of  the  territory. 

The  first  attempts  to  establish  settlements  were 
made  at  Sioux  Palls  and  Plandreau  in  1857,  though 
preliminary  visits  were  made  in  1856.  About  the  same 
time  a  town  site  was  located  in  the  southern  part  of 
Brookings  county,  which  was  called  Medary.  It  was 
intended  by  its  originators  to  make  this  the  capital  of  a 
territory  yet  to  be  organized.  The  prime  movers  in 
these  plans  to  occupy  Dakota  were  the  Western  Town 
Site  Company  of  Dubuque,  Iowa,  and  the  Dakota  Land 
Company  of  St.  Paul,  Minnesota.  Within  a  few 
months  Indian  hostilities  began,  the  little  villag*e  of 
Medary  w^as  burned,  and  all  of  the  small  settlements 
along-  the  Sioux  river  were  temporarily  abandoned. 
Near  the  close  of  that  year  a  few  buildings  were 
erected  at  Sioux  Palls.  The  population  consisted  of 
sixteen  men.  This  number  had  increased  to  sixty  or 
more  in  June,  1858.  On  the  renewal  of  hostilities  they 
built  a  fort  for  their  protection.     Por  several  years  the 


28  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

peace  of  the  future  metropolis  of  South  Dakota  was 
frequently  disturbed  by  real  and  threatened  attacks  by 
the  Indians. 

While  the  first  movements  towards  the  location  of 
colonies  were  made  in  the  valley  of  the  Sioux  river, 
these  were  soon  after  followed  by  pioneers  who  were 
scattered  along"  the  Missouri  river,  in  what  are  now 
Union,  Clay  and  Yankton  counties.  For  greater  safety 
ag-ainst  their  common  foe  they  were  collected  tog-ether 
in  settlements  at  what  are  now  the  cities  of  Elk  Point, 
Vermillion  and  Yankton.  The  settlers  at  and  near 
Vermillion  appear  to  have  been  the  first  to  establish 
homes  along  the  fertile  valley  of  the  Missouri,  in  the 
autumn  of  1857  and  the  spring  of  1858.  Others  came 
to  Yankton  in  1858  and  to  Elk  Point  in  1859. 

For  the  first  few  years  the  danglers  and  risks  of  pio- 
neer life  in  Dakota  were  too  great  to  encourage  rapid 
immig-ration.  It  required  courage  to  come,  and  perse- 
verance in  the  face  of  innumerable  hardships  and 
obstacles  to  maintain  homes  in  a  new  country,  away 
from  the  comforts  and  advantages  of  older  civilizations, 
under  conditions  where  one's  life  and  family  and  pos- 
sessions were  in  constant  danger.  In  consequence  of 
the  privations  and  sacrifices  which  were  the  necessary 
experience  of  those  early  days,  the  pioneer  settlers 
were  not  crowded  by  white  neighbors.  In  1860  the 
total  white  population  of  Yankton  county  consisted 
of  nine  families,  and  thirty  bachelors  living  in  claim 
shanties. 

On  account  of  the  disturbed  condition  of  these  colo- 
nies for  several  years  the  tide  of  immigration  moved 
slowly  until  1866.  Prom  that  year  onward  Indian  hos- 
tilities were  of  rare  occurrence,  and  the  southern  coun- 
ties began  to  fill  up  rapidly  with  settlers.     The  drift  of 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF   SOUTH  DAKOTA.  29 

population  was  northward  along-  the  Sioux,  Vermillion 
and  James  rivers,  and  northwestward  alon^  the  Mis- 
souri. Bon  Homme  county  was  first  settled  in  1858,  by 
a  colony  from  Mankato,  Minnesota.  Lincoln  county 
was  first  occupied  in  1861.  McCook  and  Hutchinson 
counties  received  their  first  settlers  in  1870,  Hanson 
county  in  1872,  Brule  county  in  1873,  and  Hug-hes 
county  in  1876.  As  the  attractions  of  soil  and  climate 
became  better  known,  and  the  peace  and  safety  of  the 
people  were  no  longer  threatened,  immig-ration  flowed 
westward  into  Brooking-s,  Grant,  Deuel,  Codington  and 
other  counties,  until  it  reached  the  valley  of  the  James 
river,  and  in  later  years  still  further  westward  to  the 
Missouri  river.  The  census  of  1870,  which  showed  a 
population  of  14,182,  was  nominally  the  population  of 
Dakota  Territory,  but  it  was  practically  the  census  of 
South  Dakota,  since  the  statement  has  been  frequently 
made,  that  until  after  1870,  there  were  not  to  exceed 
five  hundred  white  inhabitants  in  what  is  now  the  state 
of  North  Dakota. 

Reference  has  been  made  to  the  fact  that  the  earliest 
pioneers  in  Dakota  could  establish  no  claim  to  the  land 
on  which  they  settled,  since  the  title  was  vested  in  the 
Indians,  who  were  the  original  and  rig-htful  possessors. 
By  the  treaty  of  1851  only  a  narrow  strip,  near  the 
Minnesota  line,  was  ceded  to  the  g-overnment.  The 
treaty  of  1859  secured  to  the  g-overnment  a  larg-e  reg-ion 
of  country,  but  the  Indians  remained  in  possession, 
and  resisted  the  encroachments  of  the  white  race,  until 
they  were  compelled  to  submit,  after  the  military  dem- 
onstrations led  by  Generals  Sully  and  Sibley.  Later 
treaties  opened  nearly  all  of  the  territory  to  settle- 
ment, most  of  the  Indians  being-  removed  to  reserva- 
tions lying  west   of   the   Missouri   river.     The   latest 


30  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

treaties  were  made  since  statehood  was  reached  in 
1889,  and  exting^uished  the  Indian  title  to  lands  in- 
cluded in  the  Sisseton  and  Yankton  reservations. 

The  way  was  now  open  for  the  coming  thousands  of 
pioneers  from  this  and  other  countries  to  establish 
homes  on  the  rich  prairies  of  South  Dakota.  The 
obstacles  that  had  hindered  the  progress  of  civilization 
were  in  large  measure  removed.  Indian  hostilities 
were  no  longer  to  be  feared.  The  axe  of  the  woodman 
was  little  needed.  Instead  of  forests  to  be  destroyed, 
the  hardy  settler  found  an  open  prairie  ready  for  the 
plow,  and  a  rich  soil  ready  to  produce  a  crop.  There 
were  still  sacrifices  to  be  made,  and  burdens  to  be 
borne,  but  they  were  those  incident  to  pioneer  life,  and 
they  were  endured  with  remarkable  courage  and  perse- 
verance. The  early  courageous  settlers  along  the 
valleys  of  the  Missouri  and  the  Sioux,  who  risked  their 
lives,  and  suffered  untold  hardships  and  privations, 
were  the  fore-runners  of  a  mighty  host  who  were  after- 
wards to  follow  them. 

"  We  hear  the  tread  of  pioneers, 
Of  nations  yet  to  be ; 
The  first  low  wash  of  waves,  where  soon 
Will  roll  a  human  sea." 

The  population  of  Dakota  Territory,  which  in  1860 
was  less  than  2,500,  and  in  1870  was  14,182,  had  grown 
to  135,180  in  1880.  The  tide  of  immigration  in  the  first 
decade  really  began  its  perceptible  flow  after  1866.  Its 
volume  rapidly  increased  during  the  second  decade, 
but  the  marvelous  progress  in  the  third  decade  has 
rarely,  if  ever,  been  equalled  in  the  settlement  of  any 
new  state  or  territory.  The  population  in  1890,  of 
what  had  been,  until  1889,  Dakota  Territory,  was 
511,527. 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  31 

Several  thing's  contributed  to  this  extraordinary 
g-rowth.  The  advantagfeous  location  of  Dakota,  about 
midway  between  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  oceans,  its 
fertile  soil,  its  pure,  dry  atmosphere,  and  unusually 
healthy  climate,  the  favorable  conditions  and  the  easy 
terms  of  payment  provided  by  the  government  for 
those  who  desired  to  establish  homes,  and  the  g-eneral 
drift  of  population  westward,  were  among-  the  thing's 
that  helped  to  bring-  about  such  a  wonderful  movement. 
Another  important  factor  was  the  coming-  of  thousands 
of  hardy  and  industrious  people  from  European  coun- 
tries, where  there  were  limitations  and  restrictions  on 
their  liberty,  both  civil  and  relig-ious,  to  enjoy  the 
rig-hts  and  blessings  of  a  free  g-overnment  in  America. 

A  liberty  loving-  people  who  have  courag-eously  en- 
dured the  hardships  and  made  the  sacrifices  necessary 
in  the  early  settlement  and  development  of  a  new  coun- 
try, may  safely  be  entrusted  with  the  responsibility  of 
moulding-  and  shaping-  the  destiny  of  the  state.  Many 
of  the  present  citizens  of  the  two  states  of  South  Da- 
kota and  North  Dakota,  were  among-  those  who,  in  the 
beg-inning-,  helped  to  set  in  motion  the  influences  that 
have  broug-ht  about  the  present  conditions  of  pros- 
perity, and  tokens  of  future  prog-ress  and  g-rowth.  A 
larg-e  proportion  of  those  who  are  now  citizens  of  these 
two  states  have  seen  the  retreating-  steps  of  the  In- 
dians to  their  present  reservations,  and  watched  the 
g-rowing-  wave  of  population  coming'  in  to  cover  with 
permanent  homes  the  land  so  recently  covered  with 
teepees. 

For  the  purposes  to  be  accomplished  in  recordings 
the  items  of  history  that  will  be  g-iven  in  succeeding- 
chapters,  it  has  been  deemed  advisable  to  furnish  a 
record  of  early  events  in  the  settlement  and  develop- 


32  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

ment  of  the  country.  The  missionary  came  with  the 
pioneer  settler.  The  relig*ious  history  of  Dakota  be- 
g-an  with  its  early  settlement.  It  is  necessary,  there- 
fore, to  trace  both  lines  of  development  and  prog-ress. 
The  field  to  be  surveyed  in  this  historical  sketch  is 
Dakota  Territory  in  its  beginning-,  but  mainly  the  state 
of  South  Dakota.  As  the  settlement  of  the  territorv, 
with  a  sing-le  exception,  beg^an  along*  its  southern  bor- 
ders, its  religious  history,  especially  in  its  early  years, 
is  practically  identical  with  that  of.  South  Dakota. 


UEV.  TRUMAN    H.  JUDSON, 

1S71-1S84. 


^r./^^?- 


CHAPTER   III. 


EARLY   BEGINNINGS. 

Amon^  the  pioneer  settlers  in  Dakota,  especially 
after  some  of  them  risked  the  dang'er  involved  in  bring- 
ing- their  families  with  them,  early  attention  was  given 
to  laying  plans  for  the  establishment  of  churches  and 
schools.  The  unsettled  condition  of  things,  due  to 
frequent  and  often  expected  raids  by  hostile  Indians, 
at  first  delayed  the  carrying  out  of  these  plans.  Relig- 
ious services,  however,  were  frequently  held  in  the  set- 
tlers' cabins,  or  in  groves  along  the  water  courses. 

The  earliest  known  religious  org-anization  was  in  the 
northeast  corner  of  what  afterwards  became  Dakota 
Territory.  There  was  a  small  Roman  Catholic  church 
near  the  beginning  of  the  century  among  the  French 
Canadian  trappers  and  half-breed  Indians  employed  at 
the  post  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company,  located  at  Pem- 
bina. A  chapel  was  built  there  in  1812.  At  the  time 
of  Major  Long's  expedition  to  that  region  in  1823,  this 
chapel  was  rapidly  falling  into  decay.  In  1845  Father 
Belcourt,  a  zealous  Catholic  priest,  built  a  chapel  and 
also  a  small  convent  at  St.  Joseph,  afterwards  known 
as  Walhalla.  The  following  year  he  built  a  chapel  at 
Pembina,  and  for  several  years  he  had  charge  of  both 
districts.  In  1846  he  secured  for  the  chapel  at  Wal- 
halla the  first  church  bell  ever  brought  into  the  terri- 
tory.    In  May,  1853,  a  company  of  missionaries,  includ- 


34  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

ing*  Alonzo  Barnard  and  D.  B.  Spencer  and  their  wives 
arrived  at  Walhalla.  They  were  members  of  the 
"Oberlin  Band,"  from  Oberlin  college.  They  had 
been  eng'ag-ed  in  missionary  work  among*  the  Indians 
at  Cass  Lake  and  other  points  on  the  upper  waters  of 
the  Mississippi  river,  and  when  missionary  operations 
there  were  abandoned  they  came  to  Walhalla  to  labor 
among"  the  Indians  there.  We  have  no  knowledg-e  of 
the  extent  of  their  work  or  its  results,  and  can  find 
only  a  record  of  martyrdom  while  eng-ag-ed  zealously 
in  the  effort  to  evang-elize  the  wild  and  uncivilized 
inhabitants  of  the  prairie.  Mrs.  Barnard  died  October 
21,  1853,  as  the  result  of  exposure  and  suffering-  inci- 
dent to  her  missionary  labors,  and  Mrs.  Spencer  was 
killed  Aug-ust  23,  1854,  by  the  Indians  whom  she  was 
trying  to  lead  to  a  higher  moral  and  spiritual  life. 

For  the  first  religious  movements  in  the  south  we 
look  to  three  of  the  earliest  settlements,  those  at  Ver- 
million, Yankton  and  Elk  Point.  The  pioneers  at  and 
near  Vermillion  came  in  the  autumn  of  1858.  There 
was  a  trading  house  and  a  steamboat  landing  where 
Yankton  is  located  in  1857,  but  the  first  settlers 
arrived  there  in  March,  1858.  Eli  Wixom,  the  first 
white  inhabitant  of  Elk  Point,  established  his  home 
there  in  July,  1859.  So  far  as  can  be  ascertained  the 
first  sermon  preached  in  Yankton  was  by  Rev.  C.  D. 
Martin,  in  February,  1859.  He  also  preached  the  first 
sermon  in  Elk  Point  early  in  1860.  The  first  sermon 
preached  in  Vermillion  was  by  Rev.  S.  W.  Ingham, 
October  14,  1860. 

The  first  known  religious  organization  in  any  of 
these  settlements  was  a  Baptist  church  established  at 
Yankton,  in  the  summer  of  1864,  by  Rev.  E.  P.  Judson. 
Its  existence  continued  until  the  end  of  1865,  when,  on 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  35 

account  of  the  disturbed  condition  of  the  settlement, 
the  members  were  scattered  and  it  became  extinct. 
The  first  Methodist  Episcopal  churches  were  org-anized 
at  Yankton  in  the  autumn  of  1865;  at  Elk  Point  in  Jan- 
uary, 1867,  and  at  Vermillion,  September  11,  1871. 
The  earliest  org-anization  of  Cong-reg-ational  churches 
was  at  Yankton,  April  6,  1868;  at  Vermillion,  September 
11,  1870,  and  at  Elk  Point  in  1872.  Leaving-  out  of  con- 
sideration the  temporary  org-anization  at  Yankton  in 
1864-5,  the  first  Baptist  churches  were  org-anized  at 
Yankton,  February  3,  1867;  at  Vermillion,  February 
16,  1868;  at  Big-  Spring-s  early  in  July,  1869.  A  prelim- 
inary org-anization  was  beg-an  at  Elk  Point,  April  26, 
1868,  but  it  was  not  completed  on  account  of  sickness. 
The  present  Baptist  church  in  that  city  was  organized 
March  11,  1871. 

The  first  missionary  work  done  by  the  Presby- 
terians in  South  Dakota  was  among-  the  Sioux  Indians. 
It  was  under  the  supervision  of  Rev.  J.  P.  Williamson, 
D.  D.,  and  was  began  in  July,  1863.  Within  three 
years  the  number  of  members  had  grown  to  236.  The 
mission  was  then  transferred  to  Niobrara,  Neb.  The 
oldest  continuous  Presbyterian  organization  is  an 
Indian  church,  at  Long  Hollow,  near  Sisseton.  It  was 
established  August  21,  1868.  It  is  in  charge  of  an 
Indian  pastor.  Rev.  Isaac  Renville.  Another  Indian 
church  called  Ascension,  near  Sisseton,  organized 
August  27,  1868,  is  distinguished  for  having  had  only 
one  pastor,  Rev.  John  B.  Renville,  an  Indian.  He  has 
served  as  pastor  of  this  church  over  thirty  years,  and 
still  abides  in  strength  and  efficiency,  and  unwaning 
favor  among  his  people.  The  first  missionary  work 
done  in  South  Dakota  among  white  people  was  by  a 
pastor  in  Nebraska,  who  made  occasional  visits  to  Ver- 


36  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

million  in  1862.  The  first  Presbyterian  church  org-an- 
ized  among-  the  white  settlements  was  at  Canton  in  the 
summer  of  1872.  A  few  years  later  this  church  be- 
came extinct.  The  first  white  org-anization  to  maintain 
a  continuous  existence  is  the  church  at  Dell  Rapids, 
since  Aug-ust  18,  1872.  The  first  Presbyterian  house 
of  worship  was  built  by  the  German  church  of  Turner 
county,  in  1880. 

The  early  churches  found  it  necessary  for  a  time  to 
meet  in  private  dwelling's  and  schoolhouses,  but  as 
soon  as  it  was  possible  they  responded  to  the  call  to 
"arise  and  build."  The  first  house  of  worship  was 
erected  by  the  Episcopal  church  at  Yankton  in  1866, 
and  at  Elk  Point  in  1868.  The  Methodists  dedicated 
their  earliest  church  homes  at  Elk  Point  in  1870,  and 
at  Yankton  and  Vermillion  in  1873.  The  Cong-reg-a- 
tionalists  dedicated  their  first  three  church  homes  at 
Yankton  July  17,  1870,  at  Canton  in  March,  1872,  and 
at  Vermillion  in  1873.  Their  house  of  worship  at  Elk 
Point  was  not  completed  until  1889.  The  first  church 
building-s  erected  by  Baptists  were  dedicated  at  Ver- 
million June  4,  1872,  at  Elk  Point  in  October,  1873,  and 
at  Yankton  in  1879. 

Putting-  the  foreg-oing-  facts  in  chronolog-ical  order, 
we  find  that  the  denominations  named  rank  as  follows: 

First,  Org-anization  of  Churches. — Baptists  lead  all 
other  evang-elical  denominations  in  Dakota,  if  we  take 
into  the  list  the  temporary  org-anization  of  1864-5,  at 
Yankton.  Omitting-  this  from  the  list,  since  it  became 
extinct,  the  order  is  as  here  g-iven.  At  Yankton — 
Methodists,  1865;  Baptists,  February  3,  1867;  Cong-re- 
g-ationalists,  April  6,  1868.  At  Vermillion — Baptists, 
February  16,  1868;  Cong-reg-ationalists,  September  11, 
1870;  Methodists,  September,  1871.      At  Elk  Point— 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OP  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  37 

Methodists,  January,  1867;  Baptists,  April  26,  1868; 
Cong-reg-ationalists,  1870.  At  Big*  Spring's — Baptists, 
July,  1889. 

Second,  Dedication  of  Houses  of  Worship. — At  Yank- 
ton— Episcopalians  in  1866;  Methodists,  1868;  Cong-re- 
g-ationalists,  July  7,  1870;  Baptists,  1879.  At  Ver- 
million— Baptists,  June  4,  1872;  Cong-reg-ationalists  in 
1873,  and  Methodists,  Aug-ust  31, 1873.  At  Elk  Point- 
Episcopalians,  1868;  Methodists,  1870;  Baptists,  Octo- 
ber, 1873;  Cong-reg-ationalists,  1889. 

The  first  Baptist  minister  who  is  known  to  have  lived 
or  labored  in  Dakota  was  Rev.  L.  P.  Judson.  •  He  came 
under  appointment  of  the  American  Baptist  Home 
Mission  Society  as  missionary  "at  Yankton  and  vicin- 
ity." He  served  nine  months  and  left  Dakota  January 
24,  1865.  His  successor  was  Rev.  Albert  Gore,  whose 
appointment  was  for  twelve  months  from  February  1, 
1865.  He  remained  until  the  following-  December. 
Neither  of  these  men  lived  at  Yankton,  but  on  claims 
located  some  distance  from  their  desig-nated  field  of 
labor.  While  doing-  more  or  less  missionary  work  at 
Yankton,  and  among*  the  scattered  settlements,  they 
were  both  interested  in  other  matters.  Mr.  Judson 
was  identified  with  what  was  known  as  the  New  York 
colony  and  was  active  in  advancing-  its  interests.  Mr. 
Gore  had  been  eng-ag-ed  for  a  time  in  secular  business 
and  politics.  He  was  a  member  of  the  territorial  leg"is- 
lature  in  1863-4. 

The  annual  report  of  the  American  Baptist  Home 
Mission  Society  for  1864-5,  makes  the  following-  state- 
ment: "In  Dakota  a  Baptist  church  and  Sunday  school 
have  been  org-anized  at  Yankton,  the  capital  of  the  ter- 
ritory." This  movement,  which  dates  from  the  sum- 
mer   of    1864,    was    the   pioneer  relig-ious  org-anization 


38  TliEi  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

among  evangelical  denominations.  How  long  it  con- 
tinued to  exist  after  Mr.  Gore  left  the  field,  at  the 
close  of  1865,  is  unknown.  It  was  a  period  of  trials 
and  hardships  in  those  pioneer  settlements.  The 
privations  of  the  early  settlers,  and  the  dread  of  In- 
dian hostilities,  which  had  not  yet  entirely  ceased, 
caused  frequent  removals,  and  many  becoming  dis- 
couraged, returned  to  their  former  homes  in  older  and 
safer  communities.  Under  such  conditions,  a  new  and 
feeble  organization,  having  limited  pastoral  oversight, 
could  hardly  be  expected  to  maintain  its  existence. 
After  much  difficulty,  detailed  information  has  recently 
been  secured  concerning  the  labors  and  experiences  of 
the  first  two  Baptist  missionaries  in  Dakota.  These 
are  fully  recorded  in  Chapter  VI. 

The  first  Baptist  missionary  whose  work  in  Dakota 
left  a  permanent  impress,  was  not  a  resident  of  the 
territory.  In  October,  1864,  Rev.  J.  E.  Rockwood 
became  the  first  pastor  of  the  Baptist  church  in  Sioux 
City,  Iowa.  He  was  the  only  Baptist  pastor  in  a  large 
region  of  country  in  northwestern  Iowa.  While  re- 
sponding to  appeals  for  help  from  many  sources,  he 
felt  deeply  moved  to  ascertain  the  needs  and  prospects 
of  the  opening  fields  in  Dakota  Territory,  along  the 
valley  of  the  Missouri  river.  Missionary  tours  up  the 
river  to  Elk  Point,  Vermillion  and  Yankton,  which 
began  March  25,  1866,  were  continued  as  frequently  as 
practicable,  until  failing  health  compelled  him  to  cease 
this  work  in  August,  1869. 

;  During  this  period  churches  were  organized,  converts 
were  baptized,  scattered  Baptists  were  gathered  to- 
gether, and  foundations  were  laid  for  future  work  by 
those  who  were  to  come  at  a  later  period.  The  first 
Baptist  church  organized   by    Mr.    Rockwood   was   at 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  39 

Yankton,  February  3,  1867.  The  second  org-anization 
was  effected  at  Vermillion,  February  16,  1868.  The 
services  were  held  in  the  historic  log*  schoolhouse  at 
the  foot  of  the  ravine.  Each  of  these  churches  were 
fully  organized,  and  they  became  members  of  the 
Northwestern  Iowa  Baptist  Association.  An  organi- 
zation was  also  begun  at  Elk  Point,  April  26,  1868,  but 
this,  ow4ng  to  failing  health,  was  not  completed.  A 
detailed  report  of  the  missionary  work  done  in  Dakota 
by  Mr.  Rockwood  will  be  given  in  Chapter  VII. 

For  a  year  and  a  half  there  were  no  Baptist  minis- 
ters in  Dakqta  except  Chaplain  G.  D.  Crocker,  of  the 
regular  army,  who  was  stationed  at  Fort  Sully,  and 
Rev.  P.  A.  Ring,  who,  with  a  colony  of  Swedes,  had 
settled  at  Big  Springs.  The  Swedish  Baptist  church 
at  Big  Springs  was  organized  early  in  July,  1869.  In 
December,  1870,  Rev.  George  W.  Freeman  visited 
Dakota.  He  had  been  in  charge  of  missionary  work  in 
Nebraska  and  along  the  rapidly  extending  lines  of  the 
Union  Pacific  and  Central  Pacific  railroads,  following 
them  to  the  coast.  He  reported  to  the  Board  of  the 
American  Baptist  Home  Mission  Society  the  result  of 
his  study  of  the  needs  of  this  field,  and  soon  after  he 
was  appointed  general  missionary  for  Dakota  Terri- 
tory. His  appointment  continued  a  little  more  than 
two  years  and  a  half,  from  March  1,  1871,  to  October 
1,  1873. 

For  the  first  time  Baptist  missionary  work  in  Dakota 
had  a  superintendent  who  could  devote  all  his  time  to 
the  field,  and  minister  to  its  rapidly  growing  needs. 
He  began  his  work  at  Elk  Point,  where  he  established 
his  home.  In  place  of  the  incomplete  organization 
begun  there  by  Mr.  Rockwood,  he  organized  a  church 
March  11,  1871.     A  few  days  later,  March  25,  he  organ- 


40  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

ized  a  church  at  Sioux  Valley.  This  was  at  first 
called  LeRoy.  Afterwards  the  location  was  moved 
further  north,  and  the  name  was  chang-ed  to  Portland- 
ville.  This  was  a  small  villag^e  started  on  the  Dakota 
side  of  the  Sioux  river.  When  the  railroad  was  after- 
wards built  from  Sioux  City  to  Sioux  Palls,  a  station 
named  Akron  was  established  opposite  Portlandville, 
on  the  Iowa  side  of  the  river.  As  Akron  g-rew  the 
location  and  name  of  the  church  were  chang-ed  to 
Akron.  During-  the  term  of  service  rendered  by  Mr. 
Freeman  as  g^eneral  missionary,  ten  or  more  churches 
were  organized,  some  of  them  by  others,  but  most  of 
them  by  himself. 

Pastors  and  houses  of  worship  were  becoming*  nec- 
essary. The  first  Baptist  pastor  in  Dakota  was  Rev. 
P.  A.  Ring-,  at  Big-  Spring-s,  July,  1889.  The  first 
American  pastor  was  Rev.  J.  H.  Young-,  who  settled  at 
Elk  Point  in  October,  1871.  He  was  ordained  there 
January  7,  1872,  and  soon  after  became  pastor  at  Yank- 
ton. This  was  the  first  Baptist  ordination  service  in 
Dakota.  Before  the  end  of  the  year  he  proved  to  be 
unworthy  of  a  place  in  the  ranks  of  the  ministry,  and 
was  deposed  November  12,  1872-  Other  pastors  came 
in  rapid  succession.  Rev.  E.  H.  Hurlbutt  settled  at 
Vermillion  in  September,  1871,  and  remained  on  that 
field  one  year  and  a  half.  Rev.  J.  J.  Mclntire  reached 
Dakota  October  17,  1871,  and  settled  where  soon  after 
the  Swan  Lake  and  Pinlay  churches  were  org-anized. 
The  names  and  locations  of  these  two  churches  were 
chang-ed,  in  later  years,  to  Hurley  and  Parker.  A 
church  was  org-anized  at  Lodi  July  23,  1871,  and  in  the 
following-  November  Rev.  J.  L.  Coppoc  became  the  pas- 
tor. The  Blooming-dale  Swedish  church  was  org-anized 
June  25,  1871.     Its  pastor  was  Rev.  J.  Peterson,  who 


IJLOOMINGDALE    SWEDISH   BAPTIST    CHURCH,    DALESBUHG. 

CHLKCH    ORGANIZED    OCTOBKK    15,    1S7I. 
HOUSE   OF    WORSHIP    DEDICATED    NOVEMBER,    1S7S. 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  41 

was  soon  after  ordained.  The  Bloomin^dale  American 
church,  now  known  as  Spirit  Mound,  was  organized 
July,  1871.  Rev.  T.  H.  Judson* became  pastor  at  Elk 
Point  October  23,  18727  and  a  year  later  settled  at  Ver- 
million. He  was  succeeded  at  Elk  Point  by  Rev.  J.  P. 
Coffman,  January  9,  1874.  Danish  churches  were  or- 
g-anized  at  Lodi  March  25,  1872,  and  at  Daneville,  De- 
cember 31,  1833. 

Church  organizations  followed  the  establishment  of 
settlements  north  and  northwest  from  the  early  start- 
ing points.  A  church  was  organized  at  Canton  March 
18,  1872.  Its  first  pastor  was  Rev.  J.  J.  Mclntire,  who 
supplied  that  field  in  connection  with  several  other 
points.  He  was  succeeded  at  Canton  October  1,  1872, 
by  Rev.  V.  B.  Conklin,  who  became  missionary  for  Lin- 
coln county.  The  church  at  Dell  Rapids  was  organized 
July  15,  1872,  and  its  first  pastor  was  Rev.  Wm.  T. 
Hill.  Churches  were  organized  at  Swan  Lake  (now 
Hurley),  December  9,  1872,  and  at  Pinley  (now  Parker), 
December  25,  1872.  The  leading  spirit  in  these  organi- 
zations was  Rev.  J.  J.  Mclntire,  and  he  became  their 
pastor. 

Beginning  with  the  organization  at  Big  Springs  in 
July,  1889,  the  Scandinavians  were  early  on  the  field  at 
other  points.  They  had  four  churches,  at  Big  Springs, 
Bloomingdale,  Lodi  and  Daneville,  with  numerous  out- 
stations.  In  later  years  some  of  these  stations  became 
separate  churches.  There  were  German  Baptists 
among  the  pioneer  settlers  in  South  Dakota,  especially 
in  Yankton,  Hutchinson,  Hanson  and  Bon  Homme 
counties.  In  different  sections  of  the  state  thev  have 
now  fifteen  strong  and  influential  churches.  A  de- 
tailed account  of  the  work  done  among  and  by  these 
nationalities  will  be  recorded  in  later  chapters. 


42  THK  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

For  two  or  three  years  the  progress  of  the  work  was 
encouraging'.  During*  most  of  this,  period  it  was  under 
the  careful  and  experienced  leadership  of  Rev.  G.  W. 
Freeman,  as  g-eneral  missionary.  Under  his  super- 
vision was  a  band  of  faithful  and  self-sacrificing- 
pastors.  But  discourag-ements  were  coming-  in  the 
approaching-  financial  crisis,  which  beg-an  in  1873,  and 
swept  over  the  country.  With  this  was  associated  the 
"g-rasshopper  raid,"  which  was  so  destructive  to  all 
kinds  of  veg-etation  in  1874,  and  returned,  with  some- 
what diminished  force  in  1875.  In  a  country  where 
almost  the  only  dependance  for  support  was  upon 
crops,  when  these  were  totally  destroyed,  the  outlook 
was  disheartening-.  The  heroic  spirit  with  which  the 
people  endured  these  hardships  and  privations,  the 
courag-e  exhibited  in  remaining-  on  their  newly  acquired 
homes,  and  their  unfaltering-  faith  in  the  future  of 
Dakota  are  deserving-  of  the  hig-hest  praise. 

The  first  Baptist  house  of  worship  built  in  Dakota 
was  at  Vermillion.  It  was  dedicated  June  4,  1872. 
It  cost  $2,200.  On  the  day  following-  the  dedication, 
the  first  Baptist  association  was  organized  at  Ver- 
million. Pastors  and  delegates  were  present  from  the 
nine  Baptist  churches  then  in  existence  in  the  terri- 
tory. Rev.  G.  W.  Freeman  was  elected  moderator. 
Deacon  M.  D.  Weston,  treasurer;  Martin  J.  Lewis, 
secretary;  and  Rev.  T.  H.  Judson,  corresponding  sec- 
retary of  the  new  organization,  which  was  henceforth 
know^n  as  the  Southern  Dakota  Baptist  Association. 
The  second  Baptist  house  of  w-orship  dedicated  was  at 
Elk  Point,  in  October,  1873. 

The  church  at  Yankton,  the  first  one  organized  in 
Dakota,  ought  to  have  become  a  tower  of  strength.  It 
started  under   favorable  conditions,  but  it  was  unfor- 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  43 

tunate  in  the  selection  of  some  of  its  pastors.  After  a 
few  years  it  contained  in  its  membership  elements  of 
weakness.  A  rule  or  ruin  policy  actuated  some  of  its 
members.  Its  first  pastor,  Rev.  J.  H.  Young-,  was 
deposed  from  the  ministry.  One  or  two  others  were 
unfit  to  be  chosen  as  spiritual  leaders  and  g-uides.  A 
majority  of  the  members  were  devoted  and  faithful, 
and  the  church  had  some  g-ood  consecrated  pastors.  A 
house  of  worship  was  completed  after  a  long-  and  hard 
strugg-le.  There  were  occasional  indications  of  a  spir- 
itual uplift,  but  there  was  a  disturbing-  element  often 
in  control,  and  the  g-eneral  tendency  was  downward. 
The  church  has  been  extinct  for  several  years.  The 
house  of  worship  is  used  by  the  German  Baptist  church 
of  Yankton.  The  title  of  the  property  is  in  the  Amer- 
ican Baptist  Home  Mission  society. 

Rev.  William  M.  Haig-h,  D.  D.,  of  Chicag-o,  who  was 
for  many  years  western  superintendent  of  missions, 
early  became  interested  in  the  prog-ress  of  Baptist  mis- 
sionary work  and  workers  in  South  Dakota.  A  few 
days  before  his  sudden  death  the  writer  of  this  historv 
wrote  to  him  requesting-  him  to  furnish  a  statement  of 
his  early  relation  to  the  field  and  his  observations  con- 
cerning it.  He  evidently  beg-an  its  preparation,  but 
had  g-ot  no  further  than  a  report  of  his  first  visit  to 
South  Dakota  in  1879.  Prom  an  unfinished  letter  to 
the  author,  found  on  his  desk,  the  following-  extract  is 
g-iven  : 

"In  accordance  with  the  resolution  of  the  Board,  I 
made  arrang-ements  for  an  early  visit  to  Dakota.  I 
reached  Yankton  Saturday  evening-,  Aug-ust  9,  1879. 
Rev.  J.  P.  Coffman,  who  resides  forty  miles  away,  was 
unable  to  be  present  on  account  of  sickness,  but  Rev. 
A.  W.  Hilton  met  me  in  his  place,  and  aided  in  laying- 
out  a  brief  tour  to  the    principal   points,    to  end  in  a 


44  THE  BAt>TIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

g-eneral  meeting*  at  Sioux  Palls.  The  Sabbath  was 
spent  at  Yankton,  services  morning-  and  evening-,  and  a 
protracted  conference  in  the  afternoon.  On  Monday 
I  visited  Elk  Point,  where  Rev.  G.  W.  Preeman,  form- 
erly our  g-eneral  missionary  for  the  territory,  is  pastor. 
Then  I  proceeded  to  Portlandville,  Vermillion,  Bloom- 
ing-dale, Pinley,  Lincoln  Centre,  Sioux  Palls,  and  Dell 
Rapids,  where  I  spent  the  second  Sabbath.  A  visit 
to  Plandreau  was  prevented  by  unavoidable  causes. 
On  Tuesday  I  went  to  Sioux  Palls,  spent  the  day  in 
conference  with  the  pastors,  reviewing-  their  fields  and 
expressing-  their  views  of  the  work  to  be  done.  At 
nig-ht  I  preached. 

"The  next  day  I  came  down  to  Canton,  where  I  was 
met  bv  Rev.  V.  B.  Conklin,  and  after  surveying-  the 
new  town,  I  took  the  cars  at  midnig-ht  for  Chicag-o, 
having-  traveled  in  the  territory  300  miles,  chiefly  by 
stag-e  and  private  conveyances, — preached  six  times, 
held  and  addressed  several  conferences  with  churches 
and  brethren,  and  studied  as  thoroug-hly  as  circum- 
stances would  permit,  the  condition  and  necessities  of 
our  churches  and  the  cause  in  Dakota. 

"To  appreciate  the  condition  of  these  churches,  it  is 
necessary  to  consider  the  method  by  which  most  of 
them  have  been  built  up.  Southeastern  Dakota  has 
been  larg-ely  settled  under  the  homestead  and  timber 
culture  laws,  and  of  course  chiefly  by  persons  of  very 
limited  means.  Almost  every  minister  who  has  come 
here  has  found  it  necessary,  even  if  he  did  not  come  on 
purpose,  as  most  have  done,  to  take  a  homestead  and  a 
claim,  and  working-  as  hard  as  the  people  during-  the 
week,  has  preached  for  them  on  the  Sabbath.  Many 
of,  these  men  have  thus  endured  a  g-reat  deal  of  hard- 
ship, receiving-  very  little  help  from  the  church,  and 
that  little  very  irreg-ularly.  Of  course  they  look  to  the 
valuable  farms  they  will  have  by  and  by  as  their  ma- 
terial compensation.  It  is  evident,  however,  that  such 
a  process,  g-oing-  on  for  a  few  years,  will  produce  a 
secularized  ministry  and  a  non-contributing-  people. 
To  a   certain,  and    in    some   cases,  a  material  extent, 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  45 

this  has  been  done,  and  of  all  the  pastors  in  Dakota,  not 
more  than  one  or  two  even  profess  to  derive  their  sup- 
port exclusively  from  the  ministry.  The  g-rasshopper 
scourg-e  which  has  afflicted  the  reg-ion  so  g-rievously  in 
past  years  has  of  course  ag-g-ravated  the  hardships  of 
the  situation,  and  checked  the  prog*ress  of  both  church 
and  people.  The  recent  visitation  has  extended  to 
Union  and  Clay  counties  wholly,  and  Yankton,  Turner, 
and  Lincoln,  partially;  about  equal  to  four  whole  coun- 
ties. The  wheat  in  these  parts  was  utterly  destroyed, 
and  vast  fields,  except  where  the  people  have  taken 
fresh  heart,  and  put  in  late  corn,  are  now  one  stretch 
of  towering"  weeds.  Some  are  becoming"  so  discourag'ed 
that  they  are  leaving  these  parts,  and  some  would  leave 
if  they  could  sell  their  property.  But  the  most  of  the 
people  are  confident  that  they  can  rise  above  their 
trouble,  and  by  g-iving-  themselves  to  the  raising-  of 
stock,  instead  of  g-rain,  will  ultimately  win  a  victory 
over  this  enemy  of  their  prog^ress. 

"The  immig-ration  of  course  is  in  the  direction  of 
g"overnment  lands,  on  which  claims  can  be  made. 
Most  of  the  land  between  the  Sioux  and  Vermillion 
rivers  is  taken  up;  between  the  Vermillion  and  James 
it  is  being-  rapidly  taken.  In  the  western  part,  especi- 
ally, the  people  have  not  yet  come  on,  but  they  will 
do  so  next  spring-,  so  as  to  make  g-ood  their  claims. 
Settlements  are  also  rapidly  projected  beyond  the 
James  river  towards  the  Missouri,  and  will  soon  be 
made.  Further  north,  broug-ht  in  throug-h  Minnesota 
by  the  Southern  Minnesota  &  Northwestern  railroads, 
the  people  are  pouring-  into  the  country  between 
Minnesota  and  the  James. 

"The  Northwestern  railroad  is  moving-  to  Lake 
Kampeska. — the  Southern  Minnesota  is  just  being-  com- 
pleted to  Plandreau,  and  is  laid  out  and  is  to  be  com- 
pleted to  Sioux  Palls  by  November,  from  which  a 
branch  is  projected  to  Yankton." 

This  chapter  has  been  devoted  to  a  history  of  early 
beg-innings  in  missionary  work.  It  beg-an  with  a  rec- 
ord of  the  earliest  known  relig-ious  org-anization  in  the 


46  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

entire  field  embraced  in  what  afterward  became  known 
as  Dakota  Territory.  It  was  a  small  Roman  Catholic 
church  established  nearly  a  century  ago  at  Pembina, 
in  the  northeast  corner  of  the  present  state  of  North 
Dakota.  The  chapter  will  close  with  a  mention  of  the 
earliest  known  relig-ious  movement  by  Protestants  in 
North  Dakota. 

Reference  has  been  made  to  a  mission  established 
among- the  Indians  at  Walhalla,  by  missionaries  Barnard 
and  Spencer  and  their  wives  in  June,  1853.  But  an 
earlier  movement  for  their  evang-elization  was  begun 
by  Baptists.  In  1852  there  were  two^^^tists  in  what 
is  now  Pembina  county.  They  were  Be  i/n  n imr-Terry 
and  James  Tanner,  The  former  was  a  member  of  the 
First  Baptist  church  in  St.  Paul,  Minnesota.  The  lat- 
ter was  a  half-breed,  whose  father  was  stolen  in  child- 
hood by  a  band  of  Shawnee  Indians,  in  Kentucky,  in 
1789.  Having  been  adopted  into  their  tribe,  he  mar- 
ried an  Indian,  and  spent  his  life  among  them.  His 
son,  James  Tanner,  was  educated  in  the  best  schools 
available  for  Indians.  He  served  for  several  years  as 
interpreter  and  assistant  in  Methodist  missions  at 
Sandy  Lake  and  other  stations  among  the  Indians  along 
the  upper  Mississippi  river. 

As  the  result  of  a  careful  study  of  the  Bible,  he 
became  a  Baptist.  During  a  severe  winter  he  walked 
to  the  nearest  Baptist  church  and  minister,  probably 
at  St.  Paul,  in  order  to  be  scripturally  baptized.  He 
then  went  east,  and  by  his  earnestness  and  zeal  he 
enlisted  the  interest  of  some  wealthy  Baptists  in  Phil- 
adelphia and  elsewhere,  in  his  desire  to  give  the  gospel 
to  the  Indians.  On  his  return  Benjamin  Terry  accom- 
panied him  to  Walhalla.  It  was  their  plan  to  erect  a 
log  building  in  which  they  could  both  teach  the  Indians 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  47 

and  half-breeds,  and  conduct  relig^ious  services.  While 
Mr.  Terry  was  entering-  the  woods  to  cut  down  some 
trees  for  the  proposed  building-,  he  was  killed  and 
scalped  by  a  company  of  Sioux  Indians. 

He  was  an  educated  young-  man,  and  an  earnest 
Christian  worker.  He  deserved  a  better  fate  than  to 
suffer  martyrdom  at  the  beg-inning-  of  a  promising- 
career.  It  was  with  difficulty  that  his  survivor  secured 
permission  from  the  Catholic  priest  to  have  his  remains 
buried  in  the  only  cemetery  then  in  the  settlement.  A 
few  years  ag-o  they  were  removed  by  the  Baptists  of 
North  Dakota,  and  a  suitable  monument  placed  over  his 
g-rave  in  the  Presbyterian  cemetery  at  Walhalla.  In 
the  same  enclosure  other  monuments  mark  the  g-raves 
of  Mrs.  Barnard  and  Mrs.  Spencer,  who,  with  similar 
devotion,  g-ave  their  lives  in  the  cause  of  Indian  evan- 
g-elization.  On  account  of  the  continued  hostility  of  the 
Indians,  James  Tanner  abandoned  that  station.  The 
cruel  death  of  his  co-worker  and  his  own  disappoint- 
ments disheartened  him.  He  roamed  about  from  place 
to  place  trying-  to  accomplish  gfood,  but  with  discourag-- 
ing-  results.     In  1864  he  lost  his  life  in  Manitoba. 

The  iii-st  known  relig-ious  org-anization  by  any  evan- 
g-elical  denomination  in  North  Dakota  was  a  Presby- 
terian church,  established  in  1876,  at  Pembina.  A 
couple  of  years  later  the  first  Baptist  church  in  that 
state  was  org-anized  at  Pargo,  January  27,  1879.  A 
Cong-reg-ational  church  was  located  at  Mandan,  July  26, 
1880.  This  was  the  first  Cong-reg-ational  church  org-an- 
ized in  North  Dakota,  and  the  first  church  organiza- 
tion of  any  denomination  in  the  state  west  of  the  Mis- 
souri river. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


PROGRESS  OF  THE  AVORK. 

We  have  thus  far  traced  the  progress  of  Baptist 
missionary  work  from  its  beg-ining-  along-  the  Missouri 
river,  until  it  reached  the  nearer  settlements  further 
north  and  west.  Eig^hteen  Baptist  churches  had  been 
orgfanized,  and  most  of  them  were  under  the  care  of 
faithful  pastors.  They  had  passed  throug-h  all  of  the 
trying-  experiences  common  to  pioneer  life.  After  the 
hard  strug-g-le  to  establish  homes,  the  discourag-ements 
that  follow  a  financial  crisis,  and  the  unexpected  blig-ht- 
ing-  of  abundant  crops  by  repeated  invasions  of  g-rass- 
hoppers,  better  times  were  beg-inning-  to  dawn.    ' 

Rapidly  increasing-  immig-ration  led  to  the  opening-  of 
many  new  settlements,  and  added  streng-th  to  those  al- 
ready existing-.  Several  lines  of  railroad  were  pro- 
jected, and  some  of  them  were  in  successful  operation. 
Along-  these  new  railroads  flourishing-  villag-es  and  am- 
bitious young-  cities  g-rew  up  with  wonderful  rapidity. 
In  many  of  these  localities  churches  were  soon  org-an- 
ized.  Among-  these  new  org-anizations  were  Centerville 
and  Madison  in  1878,  Goodwin  in  1879,  Huron,  Brook- 
ing-s,  Watertown  and  Big-  Stone  City  in  1880,  Mitchell 
and  Montrose  in  1881,  Aberdeen,  Arling-ton,  Eg-an  and 
Chamberlain  in  1882,  Armour,  De  Smet  and  Spencer  in 
1883,  Ipswich,  Parkston  and  Pierre  in  1884,  and  Elkton 
in  1885. 


REV.  A.  W.  HILTON. 

I 874- I 882, 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  49 

The  official  relation  of  Rev.  G.  W.  Preeman  to  the 
missionary  work  ended  October  1,  1873.  Rev.  J.  N. 
Webb,  D.  D.,  whose  headquarters  were  at  Ashland, 
Nebraska,  was  appointed  by  the  American  Baptist 
Home  Mission  Society,  district  secretary  for  Nebraska 
and  Dakota  Territory.  His  term  of  service  beg-an  Feb- 
ruary 1,  1875,  and  continued  until  October  1,  1877. 
The  field  then  occupied  by  the  Baptists  was  seven  or 
eight  counties  in  the  southern  portion  of  the  territory. 
He  made  several  visits  to  this  g-rowing-  field,  assisting- 
the  pastors,  encourag-ingf  the  churches,  and  occasion- 
ally exploring-  the  reg-ions  beyond. 

Nearly  all  of  the  pioneer  missionaries,  with  com- 
mendable perseverance,  remained  at  their  posts  of 
duty,  enduring-  hardships  and  making-  sacrifices  now 
unknown.  Some  of  them  continue  until  now,  but  are 
yielding-  to  the  infirmities  of  ag-e,  and  waiting-  for  the 
rest  that  is  beyond.  Others  have  ceased  from  their 
labor,  and  their  works  follow  them.  To  the  list  of 
those  mentioned  in  the  preceding-  chapter  should  be 
added  the  names  of  some  who  came  a  little  later,  but 
wroug-ht  faithfully  and  well.  Rev.  T.  H. Judson  canie 
in  1872.  He  was  pastor  at  Elk  Point,  Vermillion,  and 
Hurley,  and  did  itinerant  missionary  work  at  several 
points  where  most  needed.  He  died  at  Hurley,  March 
17,  1884.  Rev.  A.  W.  Hilton  settled  first  in  Turner 
county,  in  1874.  He  was  pastor  on  several  fields,  in- 
cluding- Parker,  Hurley  and  Sioux  Palls.  He  was  a 
man  of  commanding-  influence,  strong-  in  his  convictions, 
and  fearless  in  expressing-  them.  He  died  at  Calumet, 
Turner  county,  September  20, 1882.  Rev.  J.  R.  Eldridg-e, 
after  a  long*  and  successful  ministry  in  New  York  and 
Wisconsin  came  to  Dakota  in  1878.  He  was  then  well 
advanced  in  years,  but  served  as  pastor  at  Blooming- 


50  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

dale,  and  supplied  other  churches  as  his  health  would 
permit.  He  died  October  6,  1884.  Rev.  Walter  Ross, 
in  1878,  established  a  home  at  Oakwood  Lake,  where  a 
church  was  soon  organized.  He  has  also  served  as 
pastor  of  the  churches  at  Estelline,  Arling-ton,  Hetland, 
Centerville  and  De  Smet. 

Between  the  James  and  Missouri  rivers.  Rev.  J.  E. 
Saunders  and  others  were  establishing-  churches  at 
Armour,  Chamberlain,  Parkston,  Plankinton,  Kimball 
and  White  Lake.  Rev.  J.  P.  Coffman  led  in  the  work 
at  Mitchell  and  Alexandria,  Rev.  G.  S.  Cleveng-er  at 
Brookings,  Elkton  and  Bushnell;  Rev.  A.  S.  Orcutt  at 
Watertown,  Rev.  G.  H.  Annis  at  Goodwin,  Rev.  E.  M. 
Bliss  at  Aberdeen,  Rev.  Geo.  A.  Cressey  at  Huron, 
and  Chaplain  G.  D.  Crocker  at  Pierre  and  Blunt. 

With  the  rapid  increase  in  population  there  was 
special  need  for  the  constant  care  and  leadership  of  a 
superintendent  of  missions,  who  could  be  all  the  time 
on  the  field,  watching  developments,  seizing  strategic 
points,  and  taking  advantage  of  desirable  opportunities 
for  the  organization  of  churches.  It  was  necessary  for 
Dr.  Webb  to  devote  most  of  his  time  to  Nebraska.  His 
visits  to  Dakota  were  helpful  and  encouraged  the 
workers,  but  they  were  necessarily  limited  in  number, 
duration,  and  the  extent  of  territory  covered.  During 
an  exceedingly  important  period  in  the  history  of  the 
Baptist  cause  in  South  Dakota,  from  October  1,  1877, 
to  August  1,  1880,  it  had  no  one  who  could  be  con- 
stantly engaged  in  personal  oversight  of  the  work. 

This  led  to  the  discouragement  of  pastors  who  were 
practically  alone,  and  most  of  them  on  very  large  fields 
which  required  all  of  their  time  and  labor.  Important 
centers  of  influence,  where  churches  ought  to  have  been 
planted,  were  not  occupied  at  all,  or  not  until  the  favor- 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  51 

able  time  to  take  possession  had  passed  by.  Occasion- 
ally a  pastor,  possessed  with  a  burning-  zeal  to  multi- 
ply org-anizations,  would  org-anize  churches  wherever 
four  or  five  Baptists  could  be  found,  in  localities  that 
g-ave  no  promise  whatever  of  future  g-rowth.  With 
rare  exceptions  these  churches  died  in  their  infancy. 
Their  names  appeared  once  or  twice  in  the  early  min- 
utes of  associations,  and  then  they  were  dropped  from 
the  roll.  In  the  early  days  it  was  impossible  to  fore- 
see where  railroad  lines  would  be  constructed,  and 
sometimes  villag-es  and  churches  were  established 
where  g-rowth  would  be  impossible,  when  rival  villag-es 
were  located  a  few  years  later  at  railroad  stations, 
only  a  few  miles  distant,  and  starting-  under  more 
favorable  conditions. 

For  these  and  other  causes  a  g-ood  many  of  the  early 
churches,  once  in  existence,  became  extinct.  Among- 
them  are  the  following-:  Yankton,  Lodi  (American), 
Gayville,  Sunnyside,  Fountain,  Oakwood,  Silver  Lake, 
Castlewood,  Big-  Stone,  Ordway,  Redfield,  Alexandria, 
Howard,  Columbia,  Blunt,  Sand  Creek,  Vilas,  Afton 
(Carthag-e),  Beulah  (Alpena),  Beulah  (Sioux  Falls), 
Clear  Lake,  Groton,  Andover,  Webster,  Grade  Siding-, 
Marion,  Dayton,  Miller,  St.  Lawrence,  Salem,  Wessing-- 
ton  Spring-s,  Garfield,  Bijou  Hills  and  Myron.  Only 
five  of  these  churches  had  houses  of  worship,  and  one 
of  these,  at  Myron,  was  a  sod  house,  which  in  a  few 
years  was  destroyed.  Most  of  the  others  passed  out  of 
existence  for  want  of  a  home,  or  because  of  unwisdom 
in  the  org-anization,  or  in  the  location  of  the  church. 
Four  of  these  churches  were  org-anized  in  the  first 
decade  (1868-1878),  three  in  the  third  decade  (1888-1898), 
and  all  of  the  others  during-  the  boom  period  of  the 
second  decade  (1878-1888).     In  some  cases  not  only  the 


52  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

churches,  but  the  little  villag-es  or  settlements  in  which 
they  were  located  have  ceased  to  exist. 

As  a  general  rule  churches  that  have  become  extinct 
came  to  their  end  mainly  for  want  of  a  house  of  wor- 
ship. A  homeless  church  is  like  a  homeless  family  or 
individual ;  it  becomes  a  wanderer  from  place  to  place, 
roving  about  from  schoolhouse  to  hall  or  empty  store- 
room. Much  of  the  time  it  can  have  only  occasional 
services.  It  finds  it  difficult  to  secure  a  pastor,  and 
lacks  the  facilities  for  obtaining  the  full  benefit  of  his 
labors.  Its  congregations  are  irregular  in  attendance. 
It  can  accomplish  but  little  in  revival  work,  and  is  not 
in  a  condition  to  satisfactorily  gather  in  the  fruits  of  a 
revival. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  church  that  has  an  attractive 
and  comfortable  house  of  worship,  is  able  to  draw 
others  besides  its  members  to  hear  the  sound  of  the 
gospel.  The  local  habitation  is  evidence  to  the  com- 
munity that  the  church  is  there  to  stay.  It  is  a  center 
of  influence  for  good  which  is  respected  by  all,  even  if 
it  is  not  utilized  by  all  of  the  people.  The  thought  of 
the  stability  and  permanence  of  a  church  organization 
has  much  to  do  in  influencing  the  people  to  identify 
themselves  with  it  as  members,  or  in  attendance  on  its 
services.  It  has  what  the  homeless  church  cannot 
have,  an  established  place  for  the  prayer  and  covenant 
meetings  and  the  Sunday  school. 

It  is  not  claimed,  however,  that  the  possession  of  a 
suitable  place  in  which  to  hold  religious  services,  is  in 
every  case,  especially  in  a  new  state,  a  sure  guarantee 
of  the  permanency  of  the  church  organization.  Churches 
have  been  established  in  localities  where  growth  was 
impossible.  Houses  of  worship  have  sometimes  been 
unwisely  located,  through  the  mistaken  belief  that  it 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  53 

is  better  to  accept  from  some  enterprising  real  estate 
dealer,  the  g'ift  of  a  lot  in  the  suburbs,  than  to  buy  a 
corner  lot  in  the  center  of  the  city  or  villag-e.  It  hap- 
pened several  times,  in  the  early  development  of  South 
Dakota,  that  new  villag-es,  whose  enthusiastic  inhabi- 
tants supposed  would  become  cities,  were  side  tracked 
by  the  construction  of  railroad  lines,  which  built  up 
other  localities.  Illustrations  of  this  have  been  nu- 
merous. The  once  promising-  villag^e  of  Fountain  is  a 
thing-  of  the  past,  having-  been  absorbed  by  Brooking-s 
and  Aurora.  What  was  orig-inally  the  church  at 
Huston  became  the  church  at  Armour.  The  churches 
org-anized  at  Swan  Lake  and  Pinlay  were  removed  and 
the  names  and  locations  chang-ed  to  Hurley  and  Parker. 
A  preaching-  station  at  Sioux  Valley,  north  of  Elk 
Point,  became  the  church  at  Le  Roy,  and  this,  after 
other  chang-es  of  location  and  name,  became  Akron. 
Experience  has  also  shown  that  it  is  possible  for  town- 
site  companies  to  hold  out  inducements  and  create  ex- 
pectations that  are  never  realized.  A  few  churches 
that  were  organized  in  territorial  days,  and  secured 
chapels,  have  died,  and  a  few  others  are  dying-,  but 
this  result  is  due  to  the  fact  of  unwise  location  of  the 
organization,  or  of  the  church  building,  or  internal  dis- 
sensions, or  later  local  conditions  that  could  not  be 
foreseen  at  the  time  these  churches  were  org*anized. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  first  decade,  in  1868,  there 
were  only  two  Baptist  churches  in  existence,  in  South 
Dakpta.  At  its  close  there  were  eighteen  churches. 
During  this  period,  though  often  under  discouraging 
conditions,  faithful  services  were  rendered  by  pioneer 
laborers,  among  whom  were  G.  W.  Freeman,  E.  H. 
Hurlbutt,  J.  J.  Mclntire,  T.  H.  Judson,  J.  L.  Coppoc, 
A.  W.  Hilton,  J.  P.  Coffiill^r^rrBT'Conklin,  Wm.  T. 


54  THE  BAPTIST  KtlSTOJjY  OF*  SOtlTtt  DAKOTA. 

Hill,  P.  H.  Damm,  Theodore  Hessel,  Nils  Tychsen, 
E.  Sandquist,  A.  B.  Nordberg,  A.  J.  Furman,  E.  M. 
Epstein,  and  others. 

Early  in  the  second  decade,  beg-ining-  in  1878, 
churches  began  to  increase  in  number  more  rapidly. 
Railroad  companies  were  extending*  their  lines  in 
nearly  every  direction,  and  the  abundant  crops,  especi- 
ally from  1880  to  1883,  encourag-ed  immig-ration.  It  was 
natural  that  under  such  favoiable  conditions  all  lines 
of  missionary  work  were  streng*thened  and  extended. 
New  churches  were  planted,  pastors  were  secured  and 
houses  of  worship  were  built.  According*  to  the  census 
of  1880,  the  population  of  Dakota  Territory  had 
increased  to  135,189,  including-  28,024  in  the  north  and 
107,156  in  the  south  half  of  the  territory.  Scores  of 
new  cities  and  villag-es  were  founded.  Everybody  was 
enthusiastic  and  hopeful.  Expensive  public  buildings 
were  erected.  The  people  in  each  locality  were  sure 
that  they  would  win  in  the  strugg-le  for  the  location  of 
county  seats,  and  becoming-  railroad  centers,  and  out-^ 
rival  their  competitors  in  population  and  supremacy. 

Under  these  conditions,  so  favorable  for  rapid 
g-rowth,  and  when  personal  oversig-ht  of  missionary 
work  was  so  essential.  Rev.  Edward  Ellis  was  ap- 
pointed by  the  American  Baptist  Home  Mission  So- 
ciety to  serve  as  g-eneral  missionary  for  Southern  Da- 
kota. He  entered  upon  his  work  Aug-ust  1,  1880,  with 
characteristic  enthusiasm  and  zeal.  A  larg-e  number 
of  churches  were  org-anized.  For  most  of  these  pas- 
tors were  obtained,  and  wherever  practicable  houses  of 
worship  were  built.  A  majority  of  the  new  pastors 
were  young  men,  thoroughly  educated,  and  full  of 
energy  and  zeal.  Many  of  them  have  left  their  impress 
on  the  state  whose  future  destiny  they  have  helped  to 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  55 

mould  and  shape.  Among  these  who  came  during-  that 
period  in  the  work  of  church  organization,  securing- 
church  homes,  and  training-  their  people  in  christian 
service  were  E.  B.  Meredith,  S.  G.  Adams,  H.  E.  Nor- 
ton, S.  J.  Wineg-ar,  J.  Edminster,  Geo.  A.  Cressey, 
C.  N.  Patterson.  J.^.  Burkholder,*F.  H.  Newton,  J.  E.  ^ 
Saunders,  Jacob  Olsen,  J.  R.  Eldridg-e,  L.  M.  Newell, 
M.  Barker,  C.  G.  Cressey,  Edward  Godwin.  S.  S. 
Utter,  E.  M.  Bliss,  F.  M.  Horning-,  C.  H.  McKee,  G. 
H.  Parker,  C.  W.  Pinwall,  Andrew  Johnson,  J.  B. 
Sundt,  O.  Olthoff,  B.  Matzke,  J.  Eng-leman,  and  others 
who  came  later  in  the  decade. 

For  ten  years  from  the  org-anization  of  the  Southern 
Dakota  Baptist  Association,  at  Vermillion,  June  5, 
1872,  it  was  the  only  one  in  South  Dakota.  As  the 
number  of  churches  increased  another  became  neces- 
sary, and  the  Sioux  Valley  Association  was  org-anized 
at  Brooking-  June  9-11,  1882.  Sixteen  churches,  all 
new  organizations,  united  in  forming  this  body.  It 
soon  became  evident  that  this  new  association  covered 
too  large  a  field,  since  it  extended  as  far  south  as 
Madison  and  Egan,  and  as  far  north  as  Aberdeen, 
Ipswich  and  Big  Stone  City.  A  third  association  be- 
came a  necessity.  The  James  River  Association  was 
organized  at  Columbia,  October  10,  1884.  The  Scan- 
dinavian Conference  or  Association  was  organized  at 
Lodi,  December  31,  1874.  It  was  intended  at  first  to 
serve  mainly  the  purpose  of  a  missionary  society,  and 
the  Scandinavian  churches  continued,  until  1886,  to  re- 
port by  letter  and  delegates  to  the  Southern  Dakota 
and  Sioux  Valley  Associations.  Since  then,  the  num- 
ber of  Scandinavian  churches  having  increased,  they 
maintain  their  own  organization.  The  German  Asso- 
ciation was   organized  at   Plum    Creek,    near    Bridge- 


56  TUE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOtTTH  DAKOTA. 

water,  June  17,  1887.  The  Sputh  Dakota  Baptist  Con- 
vention beg-an  its  organization  at  Lake  Madison  July  1, 
1881.  The  detailed  history  of  these  associations  and 
the  state  convention  will  be  g-iven  in  later  chapters. 

During-  this  decade  each  of  the  leading-  denominations 
li^ad  reached  a  condition  of  streng*th  and  courag-e  to 
undertake  to  establish  denominational  schools  of  the 
hig-her  g-rade.  Before  becoming*  a  state  the  territorial 
leg-islature  had  located  a  state  university  at  Vermillion, 
an  ag-ricultural  colleg-e  at  Brookingfs,  and  normal 
schools  at  Madison  and  Spearfish.  Early  attention 
w^as  g-iven  to  the  establishment  of  denominational 
schools.  The  first  of  these  was  located  by  the  Con- 
g-regfationalists  at  Yankton ;  the  Methodists  planted 
theirs  at  Mitchell ;  the  Presbyterians  at  Pierre ;  and 
the  Baptists,  Episcopalians  and  Scandinavian  Luther- 
ans at  Sioux  Palls.  A  separate  chapter  will  be  devoted 
to  a  historical  sketch  of  Sioux  Palls  University. 

During-  the  first  decade  only  one  German  Baptist 
church  was  org-anized.  This  was  done  at  Emanuel's 
Creek,  April  26,  1876,  by  Rev.  J.  Wendt.  The  second 
organization  was  at  Big  Stone  City,  May  9,  188Q,  under 
the  leadership  of  Rev.  J.  Engler.  Missionary  work 
was  carried  on  among  these  people  in  several  localities 
by  Rev.  P.  Reichle  and  Rev.  J.  Croeni.  Stations  were 
established  and  maintained,  but  the  conservative  and 
careful  policy  of  the  Germans  was  carried  out,  and  the 
organization  of  churches  was  usually  delayed  until  the 
number  of  members  at  each  of  these  stations  was  large 
enough  to  be  self-supporting.  The  German  Baptist 
church  at  Plum  Creek  was  organized  June  9,  1883. 
Others  followed  at  Madison  May  1,  1885;  at  Emery 
Pebruary  24,  1886 :  and  Eureka  June  16,  1886.  Rev. 
O.  Olthofe  came  to  Dakota  Territory  in  1884.     As  the 


REV.  EDWAHD    ELLIS, 

GENERAL   MISSIONAKY,    1880-1885. 


THJS  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OP  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  57 

result  of  his  earnest  labors  some  German  churches 
were  org'anized,  and  later  co-workers  have  helped  to 
increase  the  number.  A  detailed  history  of  the  Ger- 
man and  German-Russian  Baptist  churches  of  South 
Dakota  is  recorded  in  another  chapter. 

Reference  has  been  made  to  Rev.  Edward  Ellis,  the 
second  g-eneral  missionary  on  this  field.  His  labors 
began  Aug-ust  1,  1880.  He  came  with  the  rapidly  in- 
creasing- tide  of  immig-ration.  The  services  that  he 
rendered  were  g-reatly  needed  and  appreciated.  In 
many  of  the  new  cities  and  villag^es  spring-ing"  up  over 
the  prairies,  were  Baptists  who  w^ere  pleading- for  church 
org-anizations  and  pastors.  He  w^as  of  a  sang*uine  tem- 
perament, full  of  energ-y  and  enthusiasm,  and  had  un- 
bounded faith  in  the  future  of  South  Dakota.  He 
never  considered  the  possibility  of  a  failure,  but  was 
always  sure  of  success.  The  spirit  of  the  times  was 
in  sympathy  with  the  zeal  of  this  earnest  leader  in 
missionary  work.  The  people  were  then  full  of  cour- 
age and  hope,  and  liberally  responded  to  his  appeals. 
It  was  easier  then,  than  in  the  later  period  of  financial 
depression  and  crop  failures,  to  establish  churches  and 
secure  the  needed  funds  for  building-  shelters  for  their 
comfort  and  protection.  He  led  in  the  org-anization  of 
twenty-six  new  churches,  thirteen  of  which,  in  a  few 
years  became  extinct,  and  in  the  erection  of  sixteen 
houses  of  worship.  His  term  of  service  continued  five 
years,  or  until  Aug-ust  1,  1885.  During-  this  period, 
with  the  consent  of  the  Board  of  the  American  Baptist 
Home  Mission  Society,  he  spent  six  months,  in  1882, 
as  supply  for  the  church  at  Sioux  Palls,  and  superin- 
tending- the  building-  of  their  house  of  worship,  three 
months  in  1883,  assisting-  in  the  establishment  of  Sioux 
Falls  University,  and  one  year  as  its  financial  ag-ent. 


58  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

The  time  regularly  devoted  to  missionary  work  in  the 
state  was  a  little  more  than  three  years. 

In  Aug-ust,  1886,  Mr.  Ellis  was  appointed  by  the 
Home  Mission  Society  -to  serve  as  district  secretary 
for  Michig-an,  Ohio  and  Indiana.  His  experience  as 
g-eneral  missionary  helped  to  qualify  him  for  efficient 
service  in  this  new  relation  to  the  cause  of  home  mis- 
sions. Having-  served  four  years  as  district  secretary 
he  returned,  in  Aug-ust,  1890,  to  Sioux  Palls,  to  g-ive 
needed  personal  attention  to  business  interests  there. 
In  March,  1892,  he  went  to  Milwaukee,  Wis.^  and  or- 
g-anized  the  Bay  View^  Baptist  church  in  that  city,  and 
became  its  pastor.  While  attending-  the  Wisconsin 
Baptist  State  Convention,  at  Hudson,  he  died  suddenly, 
after  a  few  hours  of  painful  illness,  on  Thursday,  Octo- 
ber 6,  1892.  Impressive  memorial  services  were  con- 
d'lctedat  Hudson,  and  the  funeral  services  were  held  at 
Milwaukee.  The  pastors  of  the  city  were  his  pall  bear- 
ers, and  his  mortal  remains  were  buried  in  Forest 
Home  Cemetery. 

Edward  Ellis  was  born  in  North  Wales  in  1842.  He 
was  converted  and  baptized  at  Pewaukee,  Wisconsin, 
in  1857,  and  he  beg-an  preaching  when  he  was  fifteen 
years  old.  His  studies  at  Beaver  Dam  were  interrupted 
by  the  civil  war.  He  enlisted  in  the  twenty-second 
Wisconsin  reg-iment.  With  the  exception  of  several 
months  spent  in  Libby  prison,  he  served  with  his  reg-i- 
ment until  the  end  of  the  war.  He  then  entered  Col- 
g-ate  Unversity  and  afterwards  completed  the  full 
course  of  theolog-ical  study  at  Morgan  Park.  While 
there  he  org-anized  and  served  as  pastor  of  the  First 
Baptist  church  of  Englewood,  Chicago.  He  after- 
wards organized  and  was  pastor  of  the  South  Baptist 
church  in  Milwaukee.     From  there  he  came  to  South 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  59 

Dakota,  in  1880,  to  become  general  missionary.  He 
was  descended  from  an  eminently  religious  family. 
Some  of  his  ancestors  were  among  the  best  known 
ministers  in  Wales.  As  a  preacher  he  was  enthusias- 
tic, forcible  and  strictly  evangelical.  He  was  a  genial 
companion,  an  inspiring  co-worker  and  a  successful 
leader.  He  has  left  an  impress  for  good  on  the  times 
and  places  in  which  he  lived  and  labored. 


CHAPTER  V. 


THE   LAST  DECADE. 

The  first  half  of  the  second  decade,  from  1878  to 
1883,  was  the  period  of  g-reatest  activity  in  both  secu- 
lar and  religious  work  in  Dakota  Territory.  The 
whole  country  was  flooded  with  immig-ration  literature, 
g-iving-  enthusiastic  descriptions  of  bonanza  wheat 
farms,  and  railroad  companies  were  pushing-  their  lines 
in  every  direction.  Immig-ration  to  the  territory 
increased  wonderfully,  and  nearly  all  desirable  g-overn- 
ment  land  was  taken  by  eag-er  settlers.  Many  new  cit- 
ies and  villages  were  established.  Town  site  compa- 
nies and  real  estate  agents  were  numerous  and  active. 
Any  enterprise,  religious  or  otherwise,  that  gave 
promise  of  helping  to  build  up  a  community,  received 
prompt  and  hearty  support. 

It  was  the  boom  period  in  the  history  of  Dakota. 
But  booms  are  never  permanent.  A  reaction  is  inevit- 
able. The  last  half  of  the  second  decade  witnessed 
the  reaction  that  followed  the  overdoing  of  its  earlier 
years.  Many  business  enterprises  that  were  begun 
under  encouraging  conditions  were  left  unfinished. 
Many  young  cities  whose  enthusiastic  founders  pre- 
dicted for  them  rapid  growth  and  metropolitan  dignity, 
are  now  older  and  wiser,  and  are  still  far  from  the 
promised  goal.  These  disappointed  hopes  and  the  fail- 
ure  to   accomplish  cherished   expectations    in  secular 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  61 

affairs,  had  a  depressing-  effect  on  relig-ious  work. 
Plans  for  the  org-anization  of  churches,  or  building- 
houses  of  worship,  were  in  many  localities  necessarily 
postponed,  and  in  some  cases  permanently  abandoned. 
In  our  denominational  work  faithful  pastors  on  exist- 
ing- fields  persevered  in  their  efforts  to  hold  the  g-round 
already  occupied.  Here  and  there  a  new  church  was 
established  and  a  shelter  secured,  but  prog-ress  was 
necessarily  slow.  The  relation  of  Rev.  Edward  Ellis, 
as  g-eneral  missionary,  continued  nominally  until 
Aug-ust  1,  1885,  but  it  was  practically  ended  a  year 
earlier  to  enable  him  to  serve  as  financial  ag-ent  for  the 
Sioux  Palls  University.  Until  1888  there  was  a  period 
of  four  years  during-  which  there  was  no  state  superin- 
tendent of  missions  on  the  field. 

Of  the  Baptist  history  of  South  Dakota  down  to  1888, 
the  author  has  carefullv  recorded  facts  as  he  has 
learned  them  from  various  sources,  including-  early 
records,  and  the  statements  of  surviving-  pioneers. 
The  history  of  this  last  decade  (1888-1898)  comes  within 
the  scope  of  his  own  observation  and  experience,  as  it 
covers  the  period  of  ten  years  of  his  relation  to  the 
work  as  state  superintendent  of  missions,  ^ttac-quc 
ifsc  vidi,  ct  quorum  ^ars  fui.  His  personal  relation 
to  the  field  and  the  workers  during-  all  of  these  years, 
has  g-iven  him  a  knowledg-e  of  its  present  and  prospect- 
ive importance,  and  of  their  fidelity  and  devotion.  The 
wonderful  tide  of  immig-ration  in  the  earlier  years  of 
the  preceding-  decade  broug-ht  many  thousands  of 
people  to  establish  homes  in  South  Dakota.  Its  reflu- 
ent wave  took  back  with  it  the  restless  spirits  who  are 
always  at  the  front  of  every  new  movement,  but  never 
remain  to  do  the  hard  work,  and  make  the  sacrifices 
necessary    for    its    permanent     establishment.       The 


62  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

workers  of  the  last  ten  years  have  had  to  labor  under 
unfavorable  conditions,  and  make  slow  progress,  thoug-h 
with  g-reater  effort  than  is  necessary  with  those  who 
catch  the  rising-  tide,  and  are  borne  along-  on  the  crest 
of  the  wave. 

Dakota  Territory  was  still  in  existence  at  the  beg-in- 
ning-  of  this  decade.  Its  division  occurred  in  1889,  and 
the  new  states  of  South  Dakota  and  North  Dakota  were 
then  admitted  into  the  Union.  For  some  time  the 
question  of  statehood  occupied  the  special  attention  of 
the  people,  who  were  passing-  from  the  irksome  condi- 
tion of  territorial  dependence  on  g-overnmental  g-uard- 
ianship,  to  the  enjoyment  of  the  privileg-es  and  exercise 
of  the  long'-denied  rights  of  citizenship.  After  putting 
in  motion  the  machinery  of  statehood,  there  were  sev- 
eral years  of  drought  and  crop  failure,  which  caused  a 
good  many  hopes  of  the  establishment  or  the  enlarge- 
ment of  religious  work  to  fail  of  their  realization.  In 
a  number  of  places  the  failure  of  the  crops  was  total, 
and  in  others  so  nearly  total  as  to  prevent  the  carrying 
out  of  long-cherished  plans  for  the  building  of  houses 
of  worship,  or  providing  means  for  the  settlement  and 
support  of  pastors.  Still  later  came  the  general  finan- 
cial depression  throughout  the  country,  and  its  attend- 
ant difficulties.  All  of  these  things  tended  to  check 
the  progress  of  the  work.  It  is  characteristic,  how- 
ever, of  the  people  of  South  Dakota  that,  though  they 
are  often  cast  down,  they  are  not  destroyed.  They 
will  rally  after  disappointment  and  try  again.  There 
have  been  numerous  instances  of  heroic  courage  and 
fortitude,  under  many  difficulties,  which  can  be  devel- 
oped only  through  severe  trials,  and  which  illustrate 
the  courageous  spirit  and  unfaltering  devotion  of  the 
hardy  pioneers  of  this  new  state. 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  63 

Until  the  beg-inning  of  this  decade  nothing  had  been 
done  to  establish  Baptist  churches  in  the  Black  Hills. 
Other  denominations  had  been  occupying-  the  g^round 
there  since  1870,  and  had  become  firmly  established. 
The  first  Baptist  church  in  the  Black  Hills  was  org-an- 
ized  October  31,  1888,  at  Deadwood.  Others  followed 
in  rapid  succession,  and  there  are  now  seven  churches, 
^ve  of  which  have  attractive  houses  of  worship.  The 
present  number  of  members  of  churches  comprising" 
the  Black  Hills  association  is  383.  Our  cause  there  is 
full  of  interest  and  promise  for  the  future. 

When  the  present  state  superintendent  of  missions 
for  South  Dakota  entered  upon  his  work  in  April,  1888, 
there  was  not  a  self-supporting-  church  on  the  entire 
field,  except  one  among-  the  German  Russians.  The 
churches  were  all  dependent  upon  the  American  Bap- 
tist Home  Mission  Society  for  aid  in  the  support  of 
pastors.  This  long--continued  condition  of  dependence 
had  not  served  to  develop  the  spirit  of  benevolence  and 
self-reliance.  Contributions  to  all  benevolent  objects 
were  few  and  small.  Better  conditions  now  prevail. 
A  larg-e  number  of  the  churches  have  become  self- 
supporting-,  and  others  will  soon  reach  that  desired 
g-oal.  Generous  oifering-s  are  now  made  for  missionary 
work.  The  plan  of  co-operation  between  the  South 
Dakota  Baptist  Convention  and  the  American  Baptist 
Home  Mission  Society  was  adopted  in  1891,  and  has 
been  heartily  approved  by  the  churches,  and  throug-h 
its  practical  working-  they  have  come  into  a  clearer  un- 
derstanding- of  the  duty  of  each  state  to  foster  its  own 
needy  fields,  by  increasing-  its  own  missionary  re- 
sources. 

Old  methods  of  work  have  in  larg-e  measure  g-iven 
way  to  newer  and  better  plans,  to  meet  the  changed 


64  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

and  improved  condition  of  things  in  the  state.  In  the 
beo-inning-  of  1888  there  were  four  associations,  one 
Scandinavian,  one  German  and  two  American,  the 
Southern  Dakota  and  the  Sioux  Valley  associations.  An 
extinct  association  in  the  northern  part  of  the  state 
was  resuscitated  and  reorganized  in  September,  1888. 
The  Black  Hills  association  was  organized  in  August, 
1890.  In  1893,  to  meet  the  growing  needs  of  the 
churches,  five  new  American  associations  were  organ- 
ized east  of  the  Missouri  river.  It  will  not  be  long  un- 
til it  will  be  necessary  to  organize  another  association 
in  the  northeast  corner  of  the  state. 

In  the  state  organization  of  the  Baptist  Young 
People's  Union,  in  1891,  a  new  element  of  strength  and 
helpfulness  came  into  auxiliary  relationship  with  the 
state  convention.  Many  good  results  have  already 
followed  the  application  of  the  consecrated  energy  of 
the  young  people  of  the  churches  to  missionary  work. 
Their  sympathy  has  been  enlisted,  and  their  practical 
co-operation  assured,  in  the  increasingly  important 
work  of  evangelizing  the  state.  During  this  period 
women's  mission  circles  have  been  organized  in  most 
of  the  churches.  The  study  of  missionary  literature 
and  plans  of  work,  has  increased  the  efficiency  of  the 
Christain  women  of  the  churches,  and  they  have  been 
faithful  helpers  in  promoting  the  primary  object  of  a 
state  convention,  the  prosecution  of  missionary  work 
within  the  state. 

An  intelligent  and  commendable  zeal  has  character- 
ized the  work  among  the  Scandinavians,  Germans  and 
Russians  of  South  Dakota.  There  are  still  large,  and 
as  yet  unreached,  communities  among  these  nationali- 
ties, and  active  measures  are  being  taken  to  bring 
them  under  the  unfluence  of  the  Gospel.     The  popu- 


FIRST  BAPTIST    CHURCH,    PARKER. 

CHURCH    ORGANIZED    AT    FINLAY,    DECEMBEK    25,     1S72. 

REMOVED    TO    PARKER    IN    1S79. 
HOUSE   OF   WOKSHIP   DEDICATED   SEPTEMBER   9,    1S83. 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  65 

lation  of  South  Dakota,  according-  to  the  national  census 
of  1890,  was  328,808.  The  state  census  of  1895,  not- 
withstanding- the  intervening-  years  of  droug-ht  and 
crop  failures,  showed  a  sligfht  increase,  the  total  being- 
330,975.  The  native  born  inhabitants  number  240,000, 
or  about  seventy-three  per  cent  of  the  total  population. 
The  foreig-n-born  inhabitants  were  91,000  or  twenty- 
seven  per  cent  of  the  entire  population  of  the  state. 
Of  the  240,000  native  born  inhabitants,  over  thirty- 
three  per  cent,  or  about  80,000,  were  born  of  foreig-n 
parents.  According-  to  this  showing-,  more  than  one- 
half  of  the  present  population  of  the  state  were  born  in 
foreig-n  lands,  or  of  foreign  parentag-e. 

Of  the  foreig-n-born  population,  the  nationalities  most 
larg-ely  represented  are  the  Scandinavians,  the  Ger- 
mans and  the  Russians.  Of  the  Scandinavians  there 
came  to  us  from  Norway,  19,257;  from  Sweden,  7,746; 
and  from  Denmark,  4,369~total,  31,373.  There  came 
also  from  Germany,  18,188;  from  Russia,  12,398;  from 
other  Germanic  nations,  2,985 — total,  33,561.  These  five 
leading-  nationalities,  and  their  children,  comprising-  so 
larg-e  a  porportion  of  our  total  population,  furnish  an 
attractive  field  for  Baptists.  Thoug-h  g-ratif ying-  results 
have  been  accomplished,  still  g-reater  efforts  should  be 
put  forth  to  secure  their  evang-lization.  Other  denom- 
inations have  accomplished  something-  among-  the  Ger- 
mans, but  Baptists  are  the  only  people  who  have  been 
able  to  reach  the  Scandinavians  of  the  state.  There 
are  now  among-  the  Germans  and  Russians  of  South 
Dakota  fifteen  Baptist  churches,  having-  twenty-four 
houses  of  worship,  and  1,280  members.  Among-  the 
Scandinavians  there  are  now  nineteen  Baptist  churches, 
having-  twelve  houses  of  worship,  and  907  members. 
The  most  cordial  and  friendly  relations  exist  between 

5 


66 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 


the  Baptist  of  these  various  nationalities  and  American 
Baptists,  and  representatives. are  annually  sent  by  them 
to  the  state  convention,  to  convey  their  fraternal  g^reet- 
ing-s. 

When  the  author's  official  relation  to  the  work  in 
South  Dakota  began,  in  April,  1888,  he  found  on  the 
rolls  of  the  associations  the  names  of  seventy-one 
churches,  having-  a  reported  membership  of  2,816. 
There  were  at  that  time  thirty-one  houses  of  worship 
and  three  parsonages.  Twenty  of  these  churches 
were  then  extinct,  leaving-  fifty-one  nominally  live 
org-anizations.  Since  then  sixty  new  churches  have 
been  org-anized  and  forty-seven  houses  of  worship  have 
been  built,  or  secured  by  purchase,  and  fifteen 
parsonag-es. 

The  following-  is  a  list  of  new  churches  org-anized 
during-  the  last  decade,  g-iving-  the  name  of  the  place 
and  county,  and  the  date  of  org-anization  or  recog-nition: 


NAME 


Orleans  (Scandinavian) 

Faulkton 

Pierpont 

Hecla 

Bradley    

Lake  Norden  (Scandinavian). 

Bushnell 

Dead  wood 

Spring  Valley  (Scandinavian) 

Bruce  

Gem 

Rapid  City 

Berton 

Delmont 

Hetland 

Onida 

St.  Lawrence 

Huron  (Scandinavian) 

Beresford 


County 


Faulk 

Faulk 

Day 

Brown 

Clark 

Hamlin 

Brookings - 
Lawrence . 

Turner 

Brookings. 

Brown 

Pennington 

Miner 

Douglas  ._- 
Kingsbury 

Sully 

Hand 

Beadle 

Union 


Date 


April 

^  April 

1  May 
May 
June 

September 
September 
September 
October 
November 
January 
March 
June 
June 
June 
June 
Julv 

December 
April 


8,  i8S8 
27,  1888 

14,  1896 

15,  1888 
..,  1888 

8,  1888 
17,  1888 
1888 
1888 
1888 
1889 
1889 

16,  18S9 
16,  1889 
19,  1889 
27,  1889 
12,  1889 
14.  1889 
19,  1889 

8,  1890 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 


67 


NAME 


Washington 

Hot  Springs 

Custer  City 

Hill  Citv 

Salem  (German) 

Avon  (German) 

Woonsocket 

Beulah,  West  Sioux  Falls 

Lead  City  _. 

Zion,  Clear  Lake 

Lake  Preston 

Groton 

Clark 

Highland 

Chancellor 

Yankton  and  Scotland  (German). 

Turkey  Valley  (Scandinavian) 

Oelrichs 

Beaver  Basin 

Salem 

Parkston  (German) 

Warner 

Verdon 

Blendon 

Vernon .. 

Conde 

Fairfax  (German) 

Flandreau 

Huffton 

Rose 

Effington ' 

Freedom 

Napier  (German) 

Windom 

Vernon  (Scandinavian) 

Hayti 

Mound  City  (German) 

Summit  ._ 

Choteau  Creek  (German) 

Millville 

White * 


County 


McPherson  . 
Fall  River  ._ 

Custer 

Peniiington  _ 

McCook 

Bon  Homme 

Sanborn  

Minnehaha ._ 

Lawrence 

Minnehaha.. 
Kingsbury  __ 

Brown 

Clark 

Brown 

Lincoln  


Yank  Ion  and  Bon  Homme 

Yankton 

Fall  River 

Custer 

McCook 

Hutchinson 

Brown 

Brown 

Davison 

Roberts 

Spink 

Gregory 

Moody 

Brown 

Spink 

Roberts 

Faulk 


Roberts ._ 
Roberts- . 
Hamlin  _ .. 
Campbell  . 
Roberts . . 
Douglas  _. 

Custer 

Brookings 


Date 


June 

August 

August 

September 

December 

December 

April 

June 

September 

October 

March 

March 

March 

May 

July 

November 

February 

March 

March 

May 

January 

January 

February 

March 

May 

June 

June 

July 

July 

March 

November 

May 

December 

May 

June 

September 

December 

March 

October 

October 

January 


26,  1890 

27,  1890 

29,  1890 
I,  1890 

4,  1890 
15,  1890 
26,  1 89 1 

28,  1 89 1 
3,  1891 

20,  1 89 1 
22,  1892 

26,  1892 

27,  1892 
8,  1892 

15,  1892 
22,  1892 

8,  1893 

5,  1893 
26,  1893 

12,  1893 

13,  1894 

28,  1894 
22,  1894 
10,  1894 
26,  1894 

14,  1894 

30,  1894 
I,  1894 

10,  1894 
17.  1895 

9.  1895 

8,  1896 
14,  1896 

16,  1897 
19,  1897 

22,  1897 

29,  1897 
13,  1898 

9,  1898 

23,  1898 
22,  1899 


Six  of  these  churches — St.  Lawrence,  Beulah  (West 
Sioux  Palls),  Groton,  Salem,  Huffton  and  Freedom — 
have  become  extinct  on  account  of  chang'ed  local  condi- 
tions and  the  removal  of  the  members  to  other  localities. 

Pollownng-  is  a  list  of  forty-seven  houses  of  worship 
built  or  purchased  during-  the  last  decade,  g^iving-  the 


68 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA, 


name  and  county,  the  date  of  dedication,  and  the  value 
of  the  property  : 


NAME 


Gettysburg 

Oldham 

White  Rock 

Dell  Rapids  (Scandinavian). 
Emanuel's  Creek  (German). 

Pierpont 

Bryant 

Eureka  (German) 

Daneville  (Scandinavian)  .__ 

Madison 

Vermillion 

Big  Stone  City  (German) ___ 

Rapid  City 

Emery  (German) 

Engel  (German) 

Beulah,  West  Sioux  Falls. __ 

Tyndail  (German) 

Deadwood 

Beresford 

Avon  (German) 

Menno  (German)  .. 

Spring  Valley 

Bridgewater  (German) 

Plum  Creek  (German) 

Hot  Springs 

Custer  City 

Arlington 

Zion,  Clear  Lake 

Parkston 

Pukwana  (Scandinavian) 

Scotland  (German) 

Armour 

Salem  (German) 

Big  Springs  (Scandinavian). 

Clark _ _.. 

Ipsvs^ich 

Akron __ 

Turkey  Valley 

Chancellor  (German) 

Pierre 

Lead  City 

Spirit  Mound 

Napier  (German) 

Berton 

Summit 

Conde  

Fairfax 


County      Valuation  Dedication 


Potter 

Kingsbury  __ 

Roberts 

Minnehaha  _ 
Bon  Homme 

Day -_- 

Hamlin 

McPherson  _ 

Turner 

Lake 

Clay 

Grant 

Pennington  . 

Hansen 

McPherson  _ 
Minnehaha  . 
Bon  Homme 
Lawrence  _ 

Union 

Bon  Homme 
Hutchinson. 

Turner 

McCook 

Hutchinson. 
Fall  River.. 

Custer 

Kingsbury .. 
Minnehaha  . 
Hutchinson. 

Brule 

Bon  Homme 
Douglas ._ 
McCook.. 

Union 

Clark  ._.- 
Edmunds. 


Yankton  . 
Lincoln  _. 
Hughes  -- 
Lawrence 
Clay 


Miner 

Roberts  _. 

Spink 

Gregory . . 


$2,000 

1,200 

750 

750 

2,800 

1,300 

1,200 

1,200 

1,500 

4kSOO 

10.000 

2,000 

5,000 

1,500 

400 

2,000 

1,700 

7,500 

1,400 

700 

800 

1,000 

2,000 

800 

5,000 

2,800 

2,500 

1,000 

1,000 

700 

1,000 

1,000 

1,625 

2,230 

2,500 

2.500 

2>87S 

1,000 

1,500 

4,500 

4,000 

1,500 

800 

800 

800 

1,000 

800 


November 

November 

November 

November 

Mav 

July 

September 

October 

November 

December 

May 

July 

March 

June 

July 

June 

July 

September 

September 

November 

November 

March 

June 

July 

August 

September 

September 

October 

January 

March 

May 

July 

September 

September 

March 

April 

June 

October 

December 

June 

February 

February 

June 

November 

March 


25, 
28, 

29, 
26, 
28, 

I, 
10, 
10, 
22, 
18, 

6, 
'5, 
20, 

19. 

28, 

5> 

6, 

20, 

22, 

27! 
i9> 
15, 

28, 

11, 

25, 
16, 

15, 
II, 
21, 

9, 
10, 

24, 
13, 

10, 

21, 

23. 
16, 

2 

9'. 
9, 

21, 

5, 


888 
888 
888 
888 
889 
889 
889 
889 
889 
889 
890 
890 
891 
891 
891 
891 
891 
891 
891 
891 
891 
892 
892 
892 
892 
892 
892 
892 
893 
893 
89^ 

893 
893 
893 
894 
894 
894 
894 
894 
895 
896 
896 
897 
897 
899 
899 
899 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  69 

During-  this  decade  of  church  org-anization,  and 
building-  houses  of  worship,  fifteen  parsonages  have 
been  built  or  purchased,  valued  at  $11,500.  The  total 
valuation  of  church  property  secured  during-  the  last 
ten  years,  including-  parsonag-es,  is  $108,930.00.  In  ad- 
dition to  the  forty-seven  new  houses  of  worship  erected, 
a  majority  of  the  older  church  building-s  have  been  ex- 
tensively repaired  and  improved.  There  are  now  in 
South  Dakota  seventy-eig-ht  Baptist  houses  of  worship 
and  eig-hteen  parsonag-es.  The  total  reported  valuation 
of  Baptist  church  property  in  the  state  is  $201,600.00. 
There  are  at  this  time  106  Baptist  churches  with  a 
total  reported  membership  of  5,786.  A  careful  and 
conservative  policy  has  been  followed  in  the  matter  of 
church  org-anization.  It  has  not  been  deemed  wise  to 
multiply  org-anizations  in  localities  that  g-ive  no  promise 
whatever  of  future  g-rowth.  The  fact  of  an  organiza- 
tion involves  the  necessity,  during  a  number  of  years, 
of  obtaining  the  funds  necessary  to  aid  in  the  support 
of  a  pastor  and  building  a  house  of  worship.  The 
financial  conditions  that  have  existed  for  several  years 
have  placed  limitations  on  our  ability  to  do  some  of  the 
things  that  have  been  desirable.  With  the  prospective 
coming  of  better  times  these  restrictions  will  be  in  a 
large  measure  removed,  and  there  will  be  greater  op- 
portunity for  expansion  and  growth. 

A  few  pioneer  Baptists  were  engaged  in  Sunday 
school  work  at  Yankton  in  1864  and  1865,  but  the  first 
distinctively  Baptist  Sunday  school  in  Dakota  was  or- 
ganized several  miles  north  of  Elk  Point,  by  Rev.  G. 
W.  Freeman,  in  a  log  house  on  the  banks  of  the  Sioux 
river,  March  26,  1871.  Its  first  superintendent  was 
Dr.  John  Tremaine.  This  school  came  into  existence 
a   few    days   after    the    organization    of    the    Baptist 


70  THE  BAPTIST  HIsToRY  OF  SOUTH  DAItoTA. 

church,  which,  under  the  various  names  of  Sioux  Val-. 
layy  Leroy  and  Portlandville,  is  now  known  as  Akron. 
Other  Sunday  schools  were  org-anized  in  1871  and  1872 
at  Vermillion,  Lodi,  Yankton,  Swan  Lake,  Elk  Point 
and  Big-  Spring's,  but  for  several  years  no  statistics 
were  g"iven  concerning*  them  in  the  earlv  reports  of 
these  churches  to  the  association.  In  more  recent 
years,  and  especially  since  1881,  this  department  of 
christian  work  has  been  under  the  superintendence  of 
earnest  and  capable  leaders,  who  have  done  much  to 
encourag-e  and  stimulate  the  workers.  B.  S.  Wales 
served  as  Sunday  school  missionary  from  December  1, 
1881,  to  May  1,  1887;  David  P.Ward,  from  Julyl,  1888, 
to  September  1,  1895,  and  Prank  D.  Hall  since  October 
1,  1895. 

When  the  Southern  Dakota  association  was  org-anized 
at  Vermillion,  in  June,  1872,  a  resolution  was  adopted 
which  emphasizes  three  important  points,  especially 
worthy  of  the  consideration  of  Baptists — first,  that 
every  one  who  loves  Christ  oug-ht  to  be  deeply  inter- 
ested in  Sunday  school  work;  second,  that  every  church 
oug-ht  to  have  its  own  school  under  its  own  control; 
and  third,  that  a  union  school  should  be  favored  only 
as  a  last  resort.  Our  churches  g-enerally,  especially 
in  later  years,  have  been  acting-  according-  to  these  ac- 
cepted maxims.  Thoug-h  every  Baptist  church  should 
have  a  Sunday  school  of  its  own,  and  some  of  our 
churches  have  successfully  conducted  mission  schools, 
yet  there  has  never  been  a  year  when  the  number  of 
Sunday  schools  exceeded  the  number  of  churches. 
Ten  years  ag-o  there  were  63  schools  reported,  having- 
504  officers  and  teachers,  3,528  scholars,  and  a  total 
membership  of  4,032.  There  are  now  in  the  state,  ac- 
cording  to   the    statistical    reports   from   the   Sunday 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OP  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  71 

schools  to  the  associations,  86  schools,  having-  732 
officers  and  teachers,  and  6,330  scholars  enrolled,  with 
an  average  attendance  of  3,989.  During-  these  years 
the  reported  number  baptized  from  the  schools  is  1,378. 
Amount  contributed  for  benevolence,  $3,038.31;  for 
expenses,  $19,231.90.  Total  amount  raised  for  both 
objects,  $22,270.21. 

The  last  decade  has  been  fruitful  in  results  along-  all 
lines,  of  work.  Taking  the  number  of  members  re- 
ported in  1887  as  a  basis— 2,816,  there  have  been  added 
to  the  churches  by  baptism,  4,561;  by  letter,  2,595;  by 
experience,  804;  by  restoration,  144.  Whole  number 
of  additions,  8,104.  Total  diminutions,  4,384.  Net 
gain  in  membership,  3,720.  The  tobal  reported  contri- 
butions for  expenses  and  benevolence  from  the  beg-in- 
ning-  of  missionary  work  in  South  Dakota,  in  1864, 
amount  to  $570,356.86.  Three-fourths  of  this  amount, 
or  $400,955.97,  have  been  contributed  during-  the  last 
ten  years. 

Previous  to  1888  no  statistical  tables  appeared  in 
the  records  of  the  convention  g-iving  a  summary  of  the 
work  done  and  results  accomplished  by  missionaries 
under  appointment  on  mission  fields  in  this  state. 
Since  then  such  tables  have  been  annually  compiled 
from  the  quarterly  reports,  and  they  have  been  pub- 
lished in  the  South  Dakota  Baptist  Annual.  Prom 
these  tables  the  following-  summary  of  missionary 
statistics  covering*  the  last  ten  years  is  here  g-iven: 


72  THEi  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  BAKOTA. 

Number  of  Missionaries ._.._.  432 

Churches  supplied 533 

Out-stations  supplied 449 

Weeks  of  labor  -  - 16,123 

Sermons  preached — 45,234 

Prayer  meeting's  attended - . -  22,378 

Persons  and  families  relig-iously  visited 102,883 

Bibles  and  Testaments  distributed 2,144 

Pag-es  of  tracts  distributed _  . .  . . 237,217 

Number  of  persons  baptized  on  mission  fields  -  2,518 

Number  received  by  letter  and  experience 1,814 

Paid  for  building-  houses  of  worship S  32,729  20 

Paid  for  repairing*  churches,  or  parsonag^es-     11,733  02 

Paid  on  church  debts  - ----     14,274  90 

Contributions  for  local  missions 2,322  58 

Contributions  for  State  Missions 3,184  91 

Contributions  for  Hom.e  Missions 2,828  08 

Contributions  for  Poreig-n  Missions 4,321  97 

Contributions  for  Publication  Society 1,016  73 

Contributions  for  Christian  education 1,247  48 

Contributions  for  other  benevolent  objects-       3,957  61 
Church   expenses    (including-   building-,    re- 
pairs and  debts) -   293,547  25 

Total  for  benevolence '.      18,879  36 

Total  from  Sunday  schools  for  expenses  —       8,655  59 
Total  from  Sunday  schools  for  benevolence-       1,924  24 

Total  amount  raised  by  Sunday  schools 10,559  83 

Total  amount  raised  by  churches  -  -  - -  -   312,426  61 

Total  amount  raised  by  churches  and  Sun- 
day schools -    322,986  44 

The  first  three  items  g-iven  show  the  ag-g-reg-ate  for 
the  time  named — ten  years.  The  averag-e  number  of 
missionaries  annually  under  appointment  has  been  43; 
churches  supplied,  53;  out-stations  supplied,  45. 


FIRST    BAPTIST    CHURCH.    HURLEY. 

CHURCH    ORGANIZED    AT   SWAN    LAKE   DECEMUKR    24,    1S72. 

REMOVED    TO    HURLEY   IN    1S79. 

HOUSE   OF    WORSHIP   DEDICATED    NOVEMKR    15,    1883, 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  73 

Some  of  the  early  pioneers  in  South  Dakota  having- 
passed  away,  they  are  known  to  the  writer  of  this  re- 
view onlv  by  the  records  concerning-  them,  and  their 
works  that  have  followed  them.  Others,  who  yet  sur- 
vive, he  has  come  to  know  and  appreciate  for  the  work 
they  have  done,  the  sacrifices  they  have  made,  and  for 
their  personal  worth.  Of  the  work  and  the  workers, 
during-  the  last  decade,  he  has  been  able  to  bear  record 
from  personal  knowledg-e.  Faithful  services  have  been 
rendered  under  many  difficulties  and  discourag-ements. 
The  period  of  upheavals  and  booms,  and  visionary  fore- 
casts of  an  improbable  future  for  South  Dakota,  is  a 
thing-  of  the  past.  Relig-ious  work  has  been  conducted 
along-  lines  that  promise  permanency  and  stability. 
The  transition  from  pioneer  experiences,  to  settled 
and  stable  conditions,  has  rendered  necessary  a  re- 
casting- of  methods  of  work.  In  adjusting-  themselves 
to  existing  conditions,  and  helping-  to  mould  and  shape 
the  destiny  of  a  new  state,  the  spirit  that  has  actuated 
all  classes  of  the  workers  has  been  worthy  of  the  hig-h- 
est  commendation.  Harmony  has  prevailed  in  all  their 
councils,  and  unity  of  feeling-  and  effort  has  character- 
ized their  work. 

In  this  and  the  preceding-  chapters,  the  author  has 
furnished  a  g-eneral  outline  of  the  field,  and  the  work 
that  has  been  done  upon  it.  In  several  succeeding- 
chapters  will  be  given  interesting-  sketches  of  the  per- 
sonal experiences  and  personal  reminiscences  of  some 
of  the  pioneer  missionaries.  They  have  been  re- 
quested to  freely  tell  to  this,  and  the  g-enerations  fol- 
lowing-, the  story  of  hardships  endured,  and  sacrifices 
made,  and  results  accomplished,  as  they  themselves 
saw  them  and  shared  in  them. 


CHAPTER   VI. 


THE  FIRST,  BAPTIST  MISSIONARIES. 
REV.  L.  P.  JtlDSON  AND  REV.  ALBERT  GORE. 

The  first  missionary  sent  to  Dakota  by  the  American 
Baptist  Home  Mission  Society  was  Rev.  L.  P.  Judson, 
who  came  from  New  York  in  May,  1864.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded in  1865  by  Rev.  Albert  Gore.  The  unsettled 
condition  of  the  territory  during-  that  period,  and  the 
removal  of  many  of  the  early  settlers,  rendered  futile 
the  first  efforts  along-  the  line  of  missionary  work. 
Settlements  were  still  few  in  number,  and  the  popula- 
tion of  each  was  small  and  constantly  chang-ing-.  In- 
dian raids  and  g-rasshopper  visitations  discourag-ed 
some  of  the  pioneers,  who  returned  to  their  former 
eastern  homes.  Under  such  circumstances  the  fruits 
of  even  well  directed  missionary  operations  could  not 
be  g-athered,  and  nothing-  permanent  could  be  estab- 
lished. Even  the  facts  relating-  to  these  early  beg-in- 
ning-s  of  missionary  work  were  soon  forg-otten,  since 
none  remained  permanently  who  were  familiar  with 
them. 

Until  recently  it  has  been  difficult  to  learn  anything- 
concerning-  the  services  rendered  by  the  first  and 
second  Baptist  ministers  in  Dakota  Territory.  The 
oldest  of  the  present  surviving-  pioneers  came  after 
their  terms  of  service  had  ended.  Nearly  all  of  the 
members  of   the  preliminary   Baptist   org-anization    of 


THE  BAJPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  75 

1864  had  removed  from  the  territory.  There  was  no 
continuous  org^anization  to  preserve  the  records  or  per- 
petuate the  memory  of  our  earliest  denominational 
movements.  Such  as  they  were,  however,  whether  per- 
manent or  temporary,  they  should  have  a  place  in  our 
denominational  history. 

Repeated  efforts  to  ascertain  the  facts  relating*  to 
that  period  having-  failed,  the  author  secured  the  co- 
operation of  Rev.  H.  Iv.  Morehouse,  D.  D.,  Field  Secre- 
tary of  the  American  Baptist  Home  Mission  Society. 
Throug-h  his  kindness  the  old  files  of  papers,  quarterly 
reports,  and  correspondence  preserved  at  headquar- 
ters, in  New  York,  for  the  years  1864  and  1865,  were 
carefully  examined.  All  the  letters  and  reports  from 
Iv.  P.  Judson  and  Albert  Gore  covering*  that  period 
were  copied.  They  are  herewith  placed  on  record  that 
the  details  concerning-  their  work  may  be  known,  as 
they  themselves  reported  it  to  the  society. 

The  appointment  of  Rev.  L.  P.  Judson  dates  from 
May  1,  1864.  It  was  for  "Yankton  and  vicinity." 
The  "vicinity"  embraced  a  larg-er  territory  than  has 
been  common  in  later  years,  as  it  included  a  missionary 
oversig-ht  of  all  the  early  settlements. 

Under  date  of  July  2,  1864,  he  writes  from  Yankton: 
— "I  date  my  labors  as  commencing-  the  first  of  May, 
because  when  I  was  with  you  in  April,  that  was  the 
understanding*.  The  draft  was  not  sent  with  the  com- 
mission, and  I  had  to  send  for  it,  and  thus  I  was 
hindered.  When  I  arrived  at  St.  Joseph.  Mo.,  the 
Missouri  river  had  fallen  so  as  to  make  it  difficult  for 
boats  to  ascend,  and  hence  I  was  ag-ain  delayed.  I 
went  on  shore  at  Council  Bluffs,  la.,  to  spend  the  Sab- 
bath. I  spent  several  hours  in  making-  such  inquiries 
as  I  could.     I   found    several  who  had  once  been  Bap- 


76  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

tists,  but  they  had  joined  other  churches,  most  of  them 
the  Con^reg-ationalists.  Prom  there  I  made  the  best 
of  my  way  up  the  river,  and  arrived  in  Dakota  Terri- 
tory, May  27.  We  are  in  the  midst  of  an  Indian  war 
here,  but  I  am  not  discourag-ed.  I  have  found  nineteen 
Baptist  communicants  in  the  territory,  whom  we  hope 
soon  to  org-anize  into  a  church." 

Aug-ust  1,  1864,  he  writes: — "I  statedly  supply  two 
stations,  with  two  out-stations.  My  place  of  residence 
and  postoffice  address  is,  Yankton,  Dakota  Territory. 
I  have  labored  nine  weeks  during-  the  past  quarter.  I 
have  preached  twenty-three  sermons  and  g-iven  two 
lectures.  Have  attended  six  relig-ious  meeting's  not  of 
my  own  appointment;  have  made  ninety-three  pastoral 
visits;  I  have  traveled  2,560  miles.  I  have  received 
from  my  people  on  account  of  salary,  fifty-seven  dol- 
lars. Connected  with  my  labors  are  two  Sabbath 
schools,  five  teachers  and  seventeen  scholars.  We 
shall  have,  when  all  is  arranged,  some  fourteen  mem- 
bers in  our  church.  We  have  not  yet  org-anized,  but 
intend  to  do  so  as  soon  as  letters  can  be  obtained  from 
the  east,  and  some  other  matters  can  be  arrang-ed. 
We  have  a  very  pleasant  outside  influence  in  our  be- 
half. Of  the  colonists  who  stopped  in  Iowa  were  some 
of  our  best  Baptist  families.  By  correspondence  I 
learn  that  some  of  them  intend  moving-  into  the  terri- 
tory this  fall.  I  found  in  this  place  one  Episcopal 
clerg-yman,  and  one  Baptist,  (Rev.  Albert  Gore)  who  is 
not  preaching  now  but  I  hope  he  will  be  within  twelve 
months.  About  forty  miles  froni  here  is  a  Methodist 
preacher,  who  came  to  this  country  to  obtain  relief 
from  a  pulmonary  complaint.  He  preaches  occasion- 
ally. Otherwise,  I  am  the  only  minister  of  the  g-ospel 
in  the  territory. 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  77 

*'My  principal  station  for  preaching-  is  in  this  place. 
I  also  have  stated  appointments  at  Bon  Homme.  That 
is  the  county  seat  of  Bon  Homme  county,  and  is  twenty 
miles  west  of  here.  They  intend  to  have  a  church 
there  ultimately.  The  principal  reasons  why  I  have 
not  preached  more  sermons  during-  the  quarter  are 
.these:  It  has  been  an  unfavorable  season  of  the  year 
for  holding-  evening-  meeting-s,  and  also  for  the  want  of 
a  suitable  place  in  which  to  hold  meeting-s.  There  is 
but  one  building-  at  all  suitable  in  the  place,  and  that  is 
the  one  used  as  the  capitol.  This  the  Episcopalians 
occupy  three  Sabbaths  in  each  month.  We  cannot 
well  have  our  meeting-s.  Sabbath  schools,  etc.,  separate, 
at  our  pleasure,  until  we  g-et  a  house  of  worship  of 
some  kind. 

"On  Monday  last,  about  9  o'clock  A.  M.,  a  cloud  of 
g-rasshoppers  came  and  lighted  upon  this  reg-ion,  and 
they  have  devoured  everything-.  Our  territory  is  en- 
tirely stripped  of  everything-  in  the  line  of  veg-etables, 
that  was  g-rowing-  on  farm  or  g-arden.  Everything-  of 
the  kind  that  is  eaten  in  the  territory  for  the  year  to 
come  must  be  drawn  in  from  the  states,  and  mostly  by 
ox  teams.  Many  of  our  colonists  only  made  provisions 
until  the  harvest  of  the  present  season.  Now  they 
have  everything-  to  purchase  until  after  the  harvest  of 
1865.  It  is  known  that  we  now  have  an  Indian  war,  and 
the  soldiers  have  now  g-one  above  to  fig-ht  the  tribes  at 
war  with  us.  But  there  are  many  thousands  of  In- 
dians this  side  of  the  soldiers.  A  cry  raised  that  the 
Indians  are  starving-  and  coming-  down  to  rob  us,  would 
cause  a  commotion  not  easily  described.  We  have 
about  two  thousand  white  inhabitants,  besides  about 
twenty  thousand  Indians,  who  must  have  provisions 
broug-ht  to  them  from  the  states,  or  more  or  less  of 
them  will  perish  with  hunger. 


78  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

"These  are  the  facts  in  the  case.  A  famine  is  cer- 
tainly upon  us  if  we  do  not  get  provisions  from  the 
states.  The  masses  of  the  people  are  not  excited 
about  the  matter  as  yet,  because  they  are  supplied  for 
the  present.  But  observing-  men  see  what  is  inevitably 
in  the  future,  and  are  quietly  planning  to  meet  the 
emergency  that  will  arise.  I  have  decided  not  to  bring 
my  family  here  this  fall,  but  to  leave  them  in  the  state 
of  New  York  where  they  are  now,  until  spring.  As  to 
my  own  labors,  I  am  not  discouraged.  We  have  only 
to  trust  in  God.  I  expected  obstacles  when  I  came, 
but  did  not  expect  them  in  exactly  this  form,  nor  to 
this  extent.  But  still  I  am  willing  to  labor  on,  and  pa- 
tiently toil  and  endure.  It  may  be  possible  that  very 
little  will  be  realized  from  the  people  toward  my  sup- 
port. Indeed,  I  have  already  been  named  as  one,  with 
two  or  three  others,  to  go  east  and  obtain  provisions  to 
feed  the  people.  We  very  inneh  need  a  house  of  vjorshijy 
in  this  -place.  There  is  not  a  house  of  zuorship  i)i  the 
territory.  Such  as  we  want  would  cost  about  two  thou- 
sand dollars.  One-half  of  the  amount  could  have  been 
raised  here  before  the  destructive  grasshoppers. 
What  can  be  done  now  I  am  not  certain. 

August  10,  1864,  he  writes: — "We  had  intended  to 
build  a  church  in  this  place,  and  one  in  Bon  Homme, 
the  ensuing  spring,  or  perhaps  earlier.  Since  the 
visit  of  the  grasshoppers  we  have  concluded  to  defer 
building  at  Bon  Homme  for  the  present,  but  we  need  a 
place,  a  house  of  w^orship,  here.  We  have  no  place  in 
which  to  hold  our  meetings,  except  once  in  each  month, 
then  we  have  the  capitol  building.  All  other  meetings 
have  to  be  held  on  ranches  or  wherever  we  can  get  a 
place.  We  have  no  separate  Sunday  school,  which  we 
deem  important.     We  wish,  by  the  grace  of  God,  to  do 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  79 

our  own  work  in  our  own  way.  As  the  people  have 
had  such  an  afflictive  dispensation  of  Providence  in 
having-  their  food,  etc.,  taken  from  them  this  season, 
they  do  not  object  to  having-  us  call  on  Christians,  in 
more  favored  circumstances,  to  aid  them  in  the  erec- 
tion of  a  comfortable  and  proper  house  of  worship. 
There  is  not  such  a  house  in  the  territory  for  any  de- 
nomination. Our  brethren  are  particularly  anxious 
that  I  should  ^o  on  such  an  errand,  to  be  absent  from 
four  to  six  weeks.  Rev.  Albert  Gore,  who  I  think 
oug-ht  to  be  preaching-,  will  take  care  of  most  of  my 
appointments  during-  my  absence,  if  I  g-o.  Por  the 
above  reasons  and  to  aid  in  arrang-ing  my  family  for 
the  winter,  I  should  like  to  leave  in  September  or  Oc- 
tober if  the  board  approves.  The  proposition  is  en- 
dorsed by  the  governor,  surveyor-general  and  other 
officials  here." 

In  his  report  dated  November  1,  1864,  he  says: — "I 
statedly  supply  three  stations  and  two  out-stations. 
I  have  labored  thirteen  weeks  this  quarter;  preached 
thirty-seven  sermons;  delivered  one  lecture  on  educa- 
tion; attended  three  other  religious  meetings;  visited 
religiously  one  hundred  and  three  families;  and  have 
traveled  in  the  discharge  of  my  duties  six  hundred  and 
twenty-two  miles.  'I  have  received  from  my  people 
eight3^-seven  dollars.  One  of  my  preaching  stations, 
Bon  Homme,  has  been  so  far  forsaken  by  its  inhabi- 
tants that  for  the  present  I  have  discontinued  appoint- 
ments there.  There  are  only  three  or  four  families 
left  in  the  place.  The  people  left  on  account  of  Indian 
alarms  and  the  fear  of  famine  during  the  winter.  We 
have  had  a  preliminary  organization  of  a  church,  or 
rather  a  Baptist  missionary  association.  The  object 
is  to  secure  concert  of  action,  to  have  our  friends  ac- 


80  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

quainted  with  each  other,  and  to  have  all  feel  the  obli- 
g-ations  of  church  membership  as  far  as  possible.  The 
reason  of  this  preliminary  arrang'ement  is  that  our 
members  live  so  far  apart  that  hitherto  it  has  not  been 
practicable  to  have  a  g'eneral  meeting",  when  we  could 
have  the  church  formally  and  fully  organized.  The 
''modus  operandi  was  to  read  to  each,  or  have  each 
read  the  articles  of  faith  and  the  covenant,  and  on  ob- 
taining their  assent  and  approval,  to  put  down  their 
names  as  members  of  the  association.  At  the  earliest 
day  consistent,  we  intend  to  have  a  general  meeting 
and  then  have  our  church  properly  organized.  Until 
then  I  do  not  feel  at  liberty  to  administer  the  ordi- 
nances. We  number  eighteen  members.  I  have  at- 
tended one  funeral  since  I  came  to  the  territory,  and 
that  was  a  case  of  suicide,  a  Roman  Catholic.  There 
are  no  Catholic  priests  here. 

"Our  people  are  struggling  nobly  against  the  effects 
of  the  drought  and  the  grasshopper  raid  last  season. 
Some  have  left  the  territory  through  fear  of  want  and 
distress  during  the  winter,  but  by  timely  efforts, 
which  we  are  encouraging  all  to  put  forth,  we  think 
provisions  enough  will  be  secured  to  prevent  any  par- 
ticular suffering  from  want  of  food.  This  was  re- 
g-arded  as  an  important  point,  and  encouragement  has 
been  given  to  the  work  by  those  having  the  interests 
of  the  people  at  heart.  I  have  taken  hold  personally, 
and  have  done  what  I  consistently  could  in  connection 
with  my  other  labors.  I  went  once  to  mill,  between 
forty-five  and  fifty  miles,  into  the  state  of  Iowa,  pur- 
chased grain,  had  it  ground,  returned,  and  distributed 
among-  the  families  that  furnished  the  means. 

"Notwithstanding  all  the  unfavorable  circumstances, 
Yankton  has  never  grown  so  rapidly  as  it  has  the  past 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  81 

season.  It  is  the  capital  of  the  territory  and  must 
grow.  It  seems  to  me  that  now  is  the  time  to  secure 
the  right  influence  for  the  Baptist  church  here  and  the 
Baptist  cause  in  the  territory.  I  therefore  have  con- 
cluded to  avail  myself  of  the  kindness  of  the  board  in 
granting-  me  a  furlough  for  three  months,  to  visit  our 
brethren  and  friends  in  the  east,  and  secure  means  to 
erect  for  us  a  good  and  convenient  house  of  worship. 
This  we  propose  to  build  next  season.  We  have  a  very 
pleasant  outside  influence  in  our  favor  here.  The  Hon. 
W.  A.  Burleigh,  delegate  to  congress  elect,  will  head 
the  subscription  with  S250.00.  Governor  Edmonds 
will  also  help,  and  others,  so  that  we  look  here  for  from 
one  to  two  thousand  dollars.  Then  we  wish  to  raise 
enough  abroad  to  build  us  a  house  that  will  cost  from 
four  to  fi.ve  thousand  dollars.  Mr.  Burleigh,  whose 
mother  is  a  Baptist,  and  an  intelligent  one,  says  he 
will  make  efforts  in  Pennsylvania,  and  especially  in 
Philadelphia,  where  he  is  personally  acquainted,  and 
this  he  will  do  without  expense  to  us.  He  expresses 
the  belief  that  enough  can  be  easily  raised  to  give  us  a 
house  worth  five  thousand  dollars.  I  now  intend  to 
leave  about  the  middle  of  December,  or  before." 

Yankton,  Dak.,  February  1,  1865. — "Report  of  labor 
under  the  appointment  of  the  Home  Mission  Society 
for  the  third  quarter,  ending  January  31st,  1865 :  I 
have  labored  thirteen  weeks  in  this  quarter ;  preached 
twenty-three  sermons  ;  delivered  one  lecture  ;  attended 
six  prayer  meetings  and  other  religious  meetings ;  vis- 
ited sixty-one  families  and  persons  religiously,  and 
have  traveled  in  the  discharge  of  my  duties  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty  miles.  I  have  received  on  account  of 
my  salary  eighty-one  dollars.  Besides  the  above  I 
have   opened   thirty-five    meetings   of   the   Legislative 


82  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

Council  with  prayer,  for  which  service  I  received  sixty 
dollars,  which  is  included  in  the  amount  here  acknowl- 
edged. I  am  now  able  to  avail  myself  of  the  kindness 
of  the  board  in  allowing-  me  to  visit  my  family  and 
arrang-e  matters  for  their  comfort  and  welfare. 
Brother  Gore  will  fill  my  appointments  during-  my 
absence,  and  if  the  board  approves,  will  take  the  field 
and  devote  himself  to  the  work  of  preaching-  the  g-lori- 
ous  g-ospel.  He  is  an  intellig-ent  and  capable  brother, 
and  I  have  labored  to  g-et  him  into  the  field  somewhere. 
His  family  are  here,  and  I  am  willing-  to  g-ive  him  my 
place,  thoug-h  I  like  the  field  and  the  country." 

Mr.  Judson  left  Dakota  early  in  February,  1865.  His 
successor  was  Rev.  Albert  Gore.  In  his  formal  appli- 
cation for  appointment,  under  date  of  January  23,  1865, 
Mr.  Gore  says:  "My  postoffice  address  is  Yankton. 
I  am  thirty-one  years  of  ag-e.  There  are  in  my  family, 
depending-  on  me  for  support,  four.  I  was  educated  at 
Kalamazoo  Colleg-e,  Michigan,  and  was  ordained  at 
Watervliet,  Michig-an."  In  his  letter  accompanying- 
his  first  quarterly  report,  dated  May  1,  1865,  he  says  : 
"I  reside  at  Brule  Creek,  Union  county,  Dakota.  My 
field  comprises  the  settled  portions  of  the  Territory  of 
Dakota.  I  statedly  supply  four  stations.  I  have 
received  from  the  field  on  account  of  salary  during-  the 
quarter  $11.00.  I  very  much  reg-ret  the  chang-e  on  this 
field.  I  am  well  satisfied  that  it  would  have  been  far 
better  for  the  cause  to  have  kept  Brother  Judson  here. 
•He  seemed  peculiarly  adapted  to  this  kind  of  labor.  I 
am  not.  Besides,  I  have  been  here  for  nearly  three 
years  attending-  to  secular  matters,  and  most  of  the 
time  taking-  an  active  part  in  the  politics  of  Dakota. 
This  course  of  conduct  has  made  me  many  enemies 
here,  and  of  course  I  must  now  contend  against  their 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  83 

prejudices.  Brother  Judson  came  here  as  a  minister. 
The  people  received  him  g-ladly,  and  were  far  better 
pleased  with  him  than  with  any  minister  of  whatever 
denomination  that  has  ever  been  here  before."  After 
stating-  that  he  came  to  Dakota  to  secure  a  home  for 
himself  and  family,  he  writes:  "At  Mr.  Judson's 
request  I  gfave  up  all  to  eng^ag^e  ag^ain  in  the  work  of  the 
ministry,  which,  however,  I  intended  to  do  next  year." 
He  then  adds  that  he  does  not  consider  himself  well 
adapted  to  that  field,  and  that  his  family  was  about  to 
return  to  Michig^an,  whither  he  expected  to  g^o  in  the 
near  future. 

The  last  letter  from  him  is  dated  at  Brule  Creek, 
October  31,  1865,  saying-  that  he  has  statedly  supplied 
three  stations  and  two  out-stations,  and  received  from 
the  field  on  account  of  salary,  $25.00.  He  makes  this 
statement  concerning-  the  disturbed  condition  of  thing-s 
in  the  new  settlements:  "During-  the  month  of  Au- 
g-ust  the  upper  Indians  came  down  upon  our  settlement, 
and  wnthin  sig-ht  of  my  door  killed  one  man,  and 
wounded  three  others,  at  work  cutting-  their  hay.  This 
has  caused  g-reat  excitement  and  alarm  throug-h  this 
portion  of  the  country,  and  created  a  g-eneral  feeling-  of 
insecurity  among-  all  classes  of  our  citizens.  Many  left 
for  a  time,  and  many  more  are  kept  in  constant  prep- 
aration to  leave  at  the  first  re-appearance  of  dang-er. 
While  this  feeling-  prevailed  it  was  almost  impossible 
to  g-et  the  people  tog-ether  for  relig-ious  exercises,  as 
every  one  seemed  impressed  mainly  with  thoug-hts 
of  their  own  personal  safety;  consequently  we  decided 
it  was  best  to  delay  completing  our  org-anization  until 
those  of  our  number  who  left  return  and  quiet  is  again 
restored  among  us." 

These   extracts   from   letters   and   reports    furnish 


84  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

substantially  all  the  information  now  available  con- 
cerning-  the  nine  months  of  missionary  services  ren- 
dered in  Dakota  by  Rev.  I>.  P.  Judson,  in  1864,  and  eleven 
months  in  1865  by  Rev.  Albert  Gore.  It  is  unfortunate 
that  Mr.  Judson  did  not  return  to  the  field,  to  accom- 
plish, if  possible,  the  work  beg-un,  and  thus  perfect  the 
organization  of  the  church  at  Yankton,  and  build  the 
contemplated  house  of  worship.  Prom  his  letters  it  is 
evident  that  he  thoug-ht  that  he  had  left  the  work  in 
competent  hands,  but  his  successor,  according  to  his 
own  statement,  was  not  so  well  qualified  for  the  field 
or  the  work.  Each  of  them  labored  under  conditions 
that  put  limitations  upon  the  results  that  they  desired 
to  accomplish.  Some  of  those  adverse  conditions  have 
already  been  stated.  Mr.  Judson  came  to  Dakota  in 
charge  of  a  colony  from  New  York.  In  supervising 
the  interests  of  this  colony  it  was  necessary  to  give  to 
it  considerable  time  and  attention.  Mr.  Gore  came  in 
1862  to  establish  a  home,  and  without  intending  to  de- 
vote his  time  to  missionary  work.  It  is  said,  by  some 
of  the  earliest  pioneers,  that  when  he  filed  his  applica- 
tion on  his  homestead  at  Brule  Creek  it  was  the  first 
application  made  by  any  of  the  early  settlers  on  gov- 
ernment lands  in  that  section  of  the  territory.  He 
gave  his  attention  mainly  to  secular  business  and 
politics.  He  was  a  member  of  the  territorial  legisla- 
ture in  1863-4.  Mr.  Judson  was  elected  chaplain  by  the 
legislature  in  1864. 

The  facts  recorded  in  this  chapter,  having  been  ob- 
tained so  recently,  will  be  entirely  new  to  the  Baptists 
of  the  present  generation,  and  substantially  so  even  to 
surviving  pioneer  missionaries.  The  latter,  who  came  in 
1871  and  later,  have  been  able  to  learn  comparatively 
little  of  the  first  missionary  movements  in  the  terri- 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  85 

tory,  previous  to  their  own  identification  with  the  work. 
The  few  earliest  Baptists  who  knew  anything-  of  the 
feeble  beg-inning-s,  under  the  leadership  of  L.  P.  Judson 
and  Albert  Gore,  had  been  scattered,  and  they  left  be- 
hind them  no  records  of  the  church  org-anization  or  any 
details  of  missionary  work  accomplished.  With  this 
explanation,  the  reader  will  better  understand  occa- 
sional references  to  this  period,  in  the  historical  remi- 
niscences g-iven  by  Rev.  J.  E.  Rockwood  and  Rev.  G. 
W.  Freeman,  in  Chapters  VII  and  IX. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


REV.  J.  E.  ROCKWOOD. 


The  statements  recorded  in  the  preceding-  chapter 
g-ive  us  all  the  available  information  concerning  the 
first  Baptist  missionary  movements  in  South  Dakota. 
From  them  we  learn  that  the  attempt  to  establish  a 
Baptist  church  was  not  permanently  successful.  The 
unsettled  condition  of  thing's  in  the  new  settlements  at 
that  time  was  unfavorable.  The  first  missionary  on 
the  field  seemed  to  be  interested  in  his  work,  but  there 
were  limitations  on  his  usefulness.  The  second  mis- 
sionary was  but  little  interested  in  either  the  field  or 
the  work.  His  time  and  attention  were  devoted  largely 
to  other  things.  Under  these  conditions,  and  others 
local  in  their  character,  no  permanent  results  were  ac- 
complished. 

The  third  missionary  whose  name  is  identified  with 
our  religious  operations  in  South  Dakota  was  Rev. 
J.  E.  Rockwood.  His  zeal  and  devotion  are  deserving 
of  the  highest  commendation.  The  services  that  he 
rendered  were  incidental  to  his  work  as  pastor  of  the 
First  Baptist  church  in  Sioux  City,  la.,  yet  they  left  a 
permanent  impression  on  the  state  of  South  Dakota. 
From  March,  1866,  to  August,  1869,  he  made  numerous 
missionary  tours  up  the  Missouri  river,  especially  to 
Yankton,  Vermillion  and  Elk  Point.  Baptist  churches 
were   organized    at    Yankton    and    Vermillion.       The 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  87 

scattered  Baptists  were  gathered  tog-ether,  and  were 
g-reatly  encourag-ed  by  the  ministrations  of  the  g-ospel. 
In  1868,  Rev.  G.  J.  Johnson,  D.  D.,  Western  Secre- 
tary of  the  American  Baptist  Publication  Society, 
accompanied  Mr.  Rockwood  on  one  of  his  reg-ular  mis- 
sionary tours  from  Sioux  City  into  Dakota  Territory. 
The  following-  extracts  are  taken  from  his  letters 
written  at  Yankton,  April  27,  1868,  and  published  in 
the  Central  Baptist,  at  St.  Louis,  Mo. : 

"Beautiful  for  situation,  is  Yankton,  the  capital  of 
Dakota.  It  is  on  an  elevated  plain,  on  the  north  bank 
of  the  Missouri  river.  It  is  sixty-five  miles  in  a 
straig-ht  course  northwest  from  Sioux  City,  and  is  in 
the  southeast  part  of  the  territory.  Only  ten  years 
ago  the  first  white  man  settled  here,  and  only  eig-ht 
years  ago  came  the  first  white  women.  The  only  other 
towns  of  importance  are  Vermillion,  thirty  miles  below, 
along  the  river,  and  Elk  Point,  about  fifteen  miles 
below  Vermillion.  These  two  towns  are  county  seats, 
and  each  has  possibly  two  hundred  inhabitants.  Sioux 
Falls  on  the  Sioux  river,  was  the  first  point  at  which  a 
settlement  was  made,  in  1856,  but  at  the  time  of  the 
Indian  massacre  in  1862,  the  place  was  abandoned,  and 
now  has  a  very  small  white  population,  beside  the 
soldiers  stationed  there.  Several  days  of  travel  and 
observation  through  this  valley  country  have  prepared 
us  to  pronounce  it  as  rich  and  productive  as  any  land^ 
that  we  have  ever  seen. 

"Of  course,  in  a  territory  only  a  few  days  more  than 
seven  years  old,  and  where  the  population  is  so  small 
and  widely  scattered,  our  denominational  organizations 
must  be  few  and  feeble.  Rev.  J.  E.  Rockwood,  of 
Sioux  City,  Iowa,  who  is  Baptist  bishop  of  all  the 
northwestern  part  of  Iowa,  is  sole  bishop  also  of 
Dakota.  He  has  traversed  the  entire  settled  portion 
of  this  territory,  looked  up  the  scattered  Baptists,  and 
organized  three  little  churches,  all  there  are  as  yet  in 
Dakota.     First,  a  church  of  seven  members  was  organ- 


88  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

ized  in  this  city,  Yankton,  February  3,  1867;  a  second 
one  of  five  members  at  Vermillion,  February  16,  1868, 
and  a  third  one  yesterday,  April  26,  at  Elk  Point. 
There  are  about  as  many  more  Baptists  in  the  vicinity 
of  these  little  churches,  ready  to  unite  with  them  as 
soon  as  the  opportunity  is  offered.  There  are  prob- 
ably fifty  Baptists  in  all,  scattered  throug-h  the  settle- 
ments of  the  territory,  but  no  minister  lives  among- 
them,  and  they  have  no  house  of  worship.  Surely  this 
is  with  them  a  'day  of  small  thing's.' 

*'But  there  is  a  g-reat  future  coming-.  There  is  yet 
to  be  a  g-reat  population  in  Dakota,  and  this  now  wild 
territory  is  to  become  one  of  the  g-reat  states  of  our 
Union.  Then  will  our  little  churches  become  strong' 
ones,  and  the  few  Baptists  of  today  will  be  numbered 
by  thousands.  Notwithstanding-,  then,  the  work  of 
Brother  Rockwood  may  now  appear  so  small,  it  is 
nevertheless  g-reat,  not  only  in  its  importance  to  the 
present  population  of  this  territory,  but  in  the  fact 
that  it  is  the  foundation  work  for  a  g-reat  future." 

These  extracts  from  the  correspondence  of  Dr.  John- 
son are  given  here  as  the  testimony  of  one  who  in  that 
early  day  was  able  to  make  a  personal  study  of  the 
field,  and  knew  something-  of  the  character  of  the  pio- 
neer work  done  by  Rev.  J.  E.  Rockwood.  The  follow- 
ing- sketch  is  a  valuable  contribution  to  the  early  Bap- 
^tist  history  of  South  Dakota.  It  was  prepared  by  Mr. 
Rockwood  in  1892: 

EARLY   BAPTIST  MOVEMENTS   IN  DAKOTA. 

Since  your  request  came  for  a  historical  paper,  I 
have  been  searching*  such  records  as  I  have  at  my  com- 
mand. I  will  do  the  best  I  can  in  sketching-  early 
Baptist  movements  in  Dakota.  What  I  have  to  say 
will  be  largely  autobiographical,  for  reasons  which  will 
be  evident  further  on. 

I  reached  Sioux  City,  Iowa,  October  29,  1864.  Breth- 
ren who  knew  more  of  the  west  than  I  did,  seemed  to 


KEV.  J.  E.  ROCKW^OOD. 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  89 

shudder  at  the  bravado  with  which  I  commenced  my 
stag-e  journey  from  central  Iowa  for  the  frontier  at 
Sioux  City,  about  two  hundred  miles  distant.  My 
inquiries  at  Sioux  City  concerning"  the  reg^ion  towards 
the  setting"  sun,  disclosed  the  fact  that  a  few  Baptists 
were  known  to  be  located  at  Yankton  and  Vermillion, 
and  that  Rev.  Albert  Gore  was  on  a  claim,  at  Brule 
Creek,  six  or  seven  miles  north  of  Elk  Point.  He  had 
preached  occasionally  at  Sioux  City.  I  do  not  think  it 
was  known  at  Sioux  City  that  Rev.  L.  P.  Judson  was 
in  the  Territory  of  Dakota.  How  soon  I  became  ac- 
quainted with  Brother  Gore  I  do  not  now  remember. 
Probably  not  until  Brother  Judson  left  Dakota,  which 
was  on  January  24,  1865.  As  he  passed  throug-h  the 
city  he  called  on  me,  and  reported  the  situation.  I 
think  that  he  had  entered  the  territory  with  what  was 
known  as  the  New  York  Colony.  He  may  have  been 
largfely  instrumental  in  starting"  that  movement.  He 
certainly  g'ave  much  of  his  time  and  labor  to  its  inter- 
ests. Some  of  the  Baptists  at  Yankton  must  have 
known  of  him,  but  his  own  statements,  and  later  in- 
quiries made  on  the  g"round,  coincide  in  showing"  that 
his  evang"elistic  and  missionary  eiforts  are  to  be  placed 
at  a  minimum.  He  left  Dakota  convinced  that  his 
colony  was,  for  the  time,  a  failure.  The  tension  and 
drain  of  the  civil  war  made  its  plans  inopportune. 

As  Mr.  Gore's  commission  dated  from  February, 
1865,  and  my  endorsement  was  gfiven  to  the  applica- 
tion, it  is  possible  that  he  had  reported  the  movements 
of  Mr.  Judson,  and  the  possibility  of  his  departure. 
During"  the  first  half  of  the  time  that  he  held  his  com- 
mission, I  heard  but  little  concerning*  him  or  his  work. 
I  was  then  too  busy  with  our  church  building"  enter- 
prise at  Sioux  City,  and  with  my  Iowa  explorations,  to 
g"o  spying"  into  a  brother's  work,  especially  as  a  regfion 
in  Iowa  sixty  miles  east  and  west,  and  reaching'  from 
the  Minnesota  line  south  to  Council  Bluffs,  was  the 
"vicinity"  named  in  my  commission.  In  September, 
1865,  Mr.  Gore  supplied  my  pulpit  while  I  attended  the 
Western  Iowa   association  at    Jefferson.     As   this  re- 


90  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OP"  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

quired  320  miles  travel  with  a  pony,  he  came  and  went 
during  my  absence. 

On  Saturday,  November  18,  Rev.  B.  T.  Hiscox,  D.  D., 
of  New  York  and  Rev.  C.  A.  Bateman,  then  of  Mis- 
souri, came  to  Sioux  City.  On  Monday  morning-  I 
drove  to  Elk  Point  and  Brule  Creek,  taking-  both  these 
brethren  with  me.  The  object  of  Dr.  Hiscox's  visit 
was  a  personal  inspection  of  the  home  mission  stations 
along-  what  was  then  the  border  of  the  east  side  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains.  Brother  Gore's  field  was  then  the 
ultima  thulc,  as  mine  had  been  earlier,  and  was  later. 
I  had  already  met  Brother  Gore  at  various  times,  and 
had  sufficient  knowledge  of  his  work  to  have  saved  that 
long  journey  of  nearly  sixty  miles,  through  a  very 
sparsely  settled  country.  I  declined  the  responsibility 
of  such  a  report,  and  insisted  upon  personal  inspection 
by  Dr.  Hiscox.  Of  his  interview  with  Brother  Gore, 
and  its  results,  I  know  nothing.  I  do  know  that  while 
his  commission  made  Yankton  the  center  of  his  opera- 
tions, he  spent  most  of  his  time  on  his  claim  at  Brule 
Creek,  forty  miles  distant,  and  that  he  made  few  ap- 
pointments for  Sabbath  services  far  or  near. 

Yet  a  broader  view  than  this  is  due  to  Brother  Gore 
and  his  work.  The  same  conditions  which  made 
Brother  Judson's  movements  futile,  were  still  opera- 
tive. In  1864,  the  only  portions  of  the  territory  which 
werie  settled,  were  limited  by  the  valley  of  the  Missouri 
and  in  the  region  of  Pembina.  The  Missouri  valley 
settlements  were  stretched  out  one  hundred  miles 
westward,  along  the  river.  The  civil  war  and  the 
mountain  gold  fever  had  reduced  the  population  of 
Sioux  City  from  two  thousand  in  1859  to  about  eight 
hundred  in  1864.  The  grasshopper  raid  of  1364  had 
compelled  the  temporary  abandonment  of  a  considerable 
proportion  of  homesteads  in  Dakota.  The  Indian  scare, 
while  it  sent  some  away,  saved  that  region  for  the  time 
from  utter  ruin.  It  was  the  government  expenditures, 
rather  than  the  bullets  of  the  soldiers,  that  protected 
the  settlements.  The  vain  marching  and  counter- 
marching of  the  troops  made  them  in  some  respects  a 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OP  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  91 

laug-hing-  stock.  But  those  who  knew  laughed  for 
another  reason.  Still  it  is  true  that  the  troops  kept  the 
people  there,  and  kept  the  Indians  away. 
.  Under  such  conditions  missionary  work  was  possible 
only  through  the  support  of  the  Home  Mission  Society. 
The  settlers  had  no  money  to  help.  Money  was  gath- 
ered only  by  those  who  speculated  in  government 
supplies,  and  was  lavishly  expended  by  them,  but  they 
never  made  good  church  deacons,  and  pastors  could  not 
depend  on  them  for  advice.  No  one  dared  to  say  that 
he  and  his  family  would  report  at  roll  call,  after 
another  trial  at  cropping  the  newly  broken  prairies. 
Brother  Gore's  latest  connection  with  Baptist  work  in 
Dakota  was  really  ended  in  December,  1865.  His  fam- 
ily had  gone  east,  I  think,  the  year  before.  He  came 
to  Sioux  City  and  remained  at  our  house  until  January 
14, 1866,  when  he  preached  the  sermon  at  the  dedication 
of  the  first  house  of  worship  built  by  the  First  Baptist 
church  in  Sioux  City.  A  day  or  two  later  he  left  us, 
going  southward. 

A  member  of  a  family  living  at  Brule  Creek,  Dakota, 
boarded  in  my  home  during  the  winter  of  1865-6.  At 
the  request  of  this  family  I  visited  Elk  Point  and  Brule 
Creek  and  held  services  March  25,  1866.  Home  duties 
prevented  further  explorations  for  a  time.  January  1, 
1867,  with  the  mercury  eight  degrees  below  zero,  I  rode 
to  Vermillion,  and  stopped  with  a  brother  Carpenter. 
The  next  day  I  drove  to  Yankton.  There  I  found  a 
Dr.  Stevens,  from  below  Elk  Point.  He  was  attending 
the  territorial  legislature.  I  stopped  at  the  Bradlev 
house  with  him.  Next  evening,  (Thursday)  I  preached 
in  the  Episcopal  church.  During  this  visit  I  made  the 
acquaintance  of  Judge  M.  Congleton  and  wife,  J.  D. 
Vanderhule  and  wife,  Mrs.  Morrow,  Mrs.  Savage,  and 
Mrs.  Monroe — all  Baptists,  I  believe.  On  the  4th  I 
returned  to  Sioux  City,,  sixty-five  miles,  reaching  home 
in  the  evening,  during  a  blizzard.  I  missed  the  road 
once  in  the  darkness,  and  when  I  found  it  I  had  passed 
Dr.  Stevens'  house,  my  intended  stopping  place.  I 
preferred  the  risk  of  a  ten-mile  drive  zcitli  the  drifting 


92  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  PAKOTA. 

snow  storm,  then  increasing-,  rather  than  to  face  the 
northwest  wind,  though  I  knew  that  I  was  only  a  mile 
from  the  desired  shelter. 

On  the  first  of  February  I  drove  again  to  Vermillion. 
Here  I  had  to  leave  my  sleigh  and  take  to  the  saddle 
for  a  ride  of  thirty  miles  to  Yankton.  I  preached  there 
in  the   evening.     On    Sabbath  afternoon,  February  3, 

1867,  I  organized  the  First  Baptist  church  at  Yankton, 
at  the  home  of  Judge  Congleton.  Among  the  constitu- 
ent members  were  Judge  Congleton  and  wife,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Vanderhule,  Mrs.  Savage  and  Mrs.  Morrow. 
Other  preaching  tours  were  made  to  Yankton  and 
Vermillion  and  Elk  Point,  in  the  months  of  July, 
August,  September,  November  and  December,  1867, 
January,  February,  March,  June,  July  and  September, 

1868.  I  preached  in  and  near  Yankton  twenty-nine 
times.  The  latest  date  is  that  of  two  services  held 
there  August  1,  1869.  The  Yanktonlchurch  reported 
by  letter  and  delegates  to  the -Western  Iowa  Baptist 
Association.  Its  name  is  on  the  pages  of  the  minutes 
of  that  association  as  a  member,  I  think  as  early  as 
1867,  but  certainly  so  in  1868.  My  records  show[^that, 
commencing'  with  my  first  trip  to  Yankton,  in  January, 
1867,  down  to  the  organization  of  the  church  at  Vermil- 
lion, I  had  preached  in  Dakota,  west  of  the  Sioux  river, 
thirty-six  times,  within  nine  of  the  fourteen  calendar 
months  of  this  interval,  and  that  sixteen  other  sermons 
followed,  closing  with  August  1,  1869. 

The  Baptist  church  at  Vermillion  was  organized 
February  16,  1868,  in  the  oldjlog  school  house,  at  the 
foot  of  the  ravine,  near  where  the  town  was  formerly 
located.  I  have  an  indistinct  recollection  of  statements 
connecting  that  building  or  its  erection  with  the  move- 
ment of  troops  sent  to  guard  the  settlements  from 
Indian  depredations.  I  had  left  home  the  day  before, 
and  found  extremely  muddy  roads. ^I  reached  Vermil- 
lion late,  but  preached  before  sleeping.  On  the  I5th  I 
preached  in  the  log  school  house  twice,  carried  through 
the  work  of  organization,  and  then  preached  in  the 
school  house  about  three  miles  north.     The  four  ser- 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  93 

vices,  besides  the  extra  work,  fell  within  twenty-four 
hours.  At  the  close  I  bade  them  drive  with  me  where 
they  pleased,  and  I  dropped  upon  the  straw  in  the 
wagfon  box  to  rest  my  bursting-  head.  In  less  than 
thirty  days  from  this  I  was  lying-  on  my  bed  at  home, 
unconscious,  nerveless,  paralyzed.  For  live  years  mine 
was  a  fig-ht  with  the  imminence  of  death.  I  am  thank- 
ful to  believe  that  at  the  end  of  that  time,  I  had  so  far 
recovered  as  to  be  no  more  liable  to  paralytic  troubles 
than  if  I  had  never  so  suffered.  The  constituent  mem- 
bers of  the  church  at  Vermillion  were  T.  K.  Hovey, 
Mrs.  Electa  B.  Hovey,  Sanford  A.  Ufford,  Mrs.  Wm. 
Shriner  and  Miss  Rachael  M.  Ross  (Mrs.  H.  J.  Austin.) 
On  June  22  I  baptized  Sister  Thompson  in  the  Vermil- 
lion river,  and  in  the  evening-  she  and  her  husband  were 
received  into  the  church.  This  church  was  also  re- 
ceived into  membership  by  the  Western  Iowa  Baptist 
Association,  September  4,  1868,  and  was  represented 
by  deleg-ates  T.  K.  Hovey  and  w4fe,  and  Rachael  M. 
Ross. 

The  org-anization  of  the  church  at  Elk  Point  occurred 
April  26,  1868.  Rev.  G.  J.  Johnson,  D.  D.,  district 
secretary  of  the  Publication  Society,  was  with  me.  He 
preached  at  Vermillion  April  23,  at  Yankton  on  the 
24th,  and  at  Elk  Point  on  the  25th  and  26th.  Deacon 
Weston  and  wife  and  two  others  responded  to  the  call 
for  org-anization.  Nothing-  more  was  done  at  that  time. 
I  preached  at  Elk  Point  only  once  more,  July  21.  We 
had  expected  a  larg-er  membership.  As  matters  turned 
out,  the  org-anization  at  Elk  Point  was  merely  nominal. 
As  to  officers,  I  think  that  only  a  clerk  was  chosen. 
The  other  churches,  at  Yankton  and  Vermillion,  were 
fully  officered  and  performed  reg-ular  church  work. 
Dr.  Johnson  took  up  collections  for  the  Publication 
Society.  I  had  at  different  times  taken  collections  for 
the  Home  Mission  Society.  Throug-h  Dr.  Johnson  I 
received  an  appointment  as  a  colporteur,  and  did  some 
of  that  kind  of  work  in  the  territory.  I  had  expected 
to  continue  long-er  in  the  pastoral  oversig-ht  of  the  three 
churches  that  were  org-anized  in  Dakota,  but  my  fig-ht 


94  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

for  life  was  not  yet  over.  For  a  considerable  time  I 
could  do  but  little  pulpit  work.  I  suppose  that  after  a 
time  the  churches  ceased  reg-ular  work  until  Rev.  G. 
W.  Freeman  came. 

I  may  add  some  statements  showing-  under  what  diffi- 
culties I  was  laboring-.  The  distance  from  Sioux  City 
to  Yankton  was  sixty-five  miles.  *  The  nearest  Baptist 
pastors  in  Iowa  were  at  Dennison  and  Council  Bluffs. 
Calls  for  work  were  incessant,  east,  north  and  south  of 
Sioux  City.  All  of  this  travel,  and  that  to  the  associa- 
tions and  conventions,  and  into  Dakota,  had  to  be  done 
by  my  own  team.  The  services  rendered  in  Dakota 
began  March  25,  1865,  arid  ended  August  1, 1869.  When 
I  settled  in  Sioux  City,  in  October,  1864,  I  had  to  go  by 
stage  from  Boonesboro,  Iowa,  a  distance  of  about  two 
hundred  miles.  Since  then,  while  engaged  in  this  bor- 
der warfare  of  nearly  thirty  years'  duration,  I  have 
learned  to  face  the  storms  of  nature  and  of  man,  to 
suffer  and  to  wait.  The  end  will  come  by  and  by.  As 
I  look  over  the  State  Annuals,  I  see  the,  growth  of  our 
churches  since  I  gave  myself  to  frontier  work.  All  of 
the  churches  in  the  two  Dakotas,  and  all  in  Nebraska 
except  three,  are  later  than  my  first  work  in  what  are 
now  three  states. 

One  of  your  inquiries  remains  unanswered.  It  is 
concerning  the  visit  to  Dakota  of  Rev.  E.  E.  L.  Taylor, 
D.  D.,  who  was  then  one  of  the  corresponding  secre- 
taries of  the  Home  Mission  Society.  He  spent  a  few 
days  in  Dakota  during  the  last  week  of  July,  1866, 
visiting  the  Yankton  Indian  agency.  His  chief  or  only 
business  while  in  Dakota  was  concerning  a  proposition 
of  the  government  to  furnish  some  of  the  Indian 
agencies  with  teachers  appointed  by  the  Home  Mission 
Society,  and  paid  by  the  government.  His  investiga- 
tions led  to  an  adverse  report,  and  so  far  as  Baptists 
were  concerned,  the  matter  passed  out  of  sight. 

When  I  left  Sioux  City  and  Dakota  in  1869,  the  tide 
of  immigration  had  but  fairly  reached  us.  I  think  that 
Sioux  City  doubled  in  population  in  1869  and  again  in 
1870.     Dakota  gained  in  like  proportion.     The  uplands 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  95 

beg-an  to  be  chosen  for  tillag-e  as  well  as  for  g-razing*. 
Railroad  communication  was  opened  to  Sioux  City  in 
1868.  My  conveniences  for  travel  were  by  stag-e  coach, 
by  pony  express,  and  sometimes  by  ferries  propelled 
by  my  own  arms.  As  my  avoirdupois  never  exceeded 
one  hundred  and  twenty-five  pounds,  that  brawn  was 
never  excessive.  The  roads  between  towns  were  lined 
with  g-rass  often  ten  feet  hig-h.  To  avoid  the  mud  in 
summer  I  was  accustomed,  in  g'oingf  up  the  Missouri,  to 
skirt  the  bluffs  until  they  turned  up  the  James  river, 
and  then  go  for  miles  throug-h  the  g-rass  when  it  was 
hig-her  than  my  head  when  standing-  up  in  my  carriag-e. 
My  compass  was  sig-hting-  a  point  on  the  river  when 
entering-  the  g-rass,  and  a  straig-ht  trail  afterward.  Dry 
matches  in  my  pocket  were  my  fire  g-uard  in  the  spring- 
and  autumn  months. 

I  am  thankful  for  the  opportunity  to  be  able  to  do 
what  I  did  in  the  early  days  of  Dakota.  I  would  be  g-lad 
to  g-reet  once  more  the  friends  I  then  knew.  Some 
time,  perhaps,  I  may  see  Dakota  ag-ain — but  7?iy  Dakota^ 
of  the  '60's,  is  g-one  forever. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


CHAPL.AIN  GEORGE  D.  CROCKER. 

Among-  the  earliest  pioneers  in  Dakota  Territory  was 
Rev.  Georg-e  D.  Crocker.  Having-  served  as  chaplain 
of  a  New  York  reg-iment  during-  the  civil  war,  he 
was  appointed  chaplain  in  the  reg-ular  army  in  1867,  and 
was  at  once  assig-ned  to  duty  at  Fort  Wads  worth,  Da- 
kota, in  what  afterwards  became  known  as  the  Sisseton 
Reservation.  In  1870,  his  post  of  duty  was  chang-ed  to 
Port  Sully,  where  he  remained  until  1885.  His  term 
of  service  in  Dakota  covered  a  period  of  eighteen  years. 
Those  under  his  immediate  care  as  chaplain  were  the 
officers  and  soldiers  at  the  military  posts  where  he  was 
stationed.  To  them  he  was  conscientiously  faithful, 
seeking-  to  promote  their  moral  and  spiritual  condition. 
As  the  result  of  his  labors  conversions  were  frequent. 
The  Standard,  in  May  1875,  g-ives  an  account  of  a  re- 
vival at  Port  Sully.  By  the  kind  co-operation  of  the 
post  commandant  and  the  post  quartermaster,  a  con- 
venient baptistry  was  constructed  at  the  fort,  and  three 
soldiers  were  then  baptized.  Others  were  baptized 
afterwards.  The  writer  has  interviewed  several  offi- 
cers of  the  reg-ular  army,  who  were  stationed  at  these 
military  posts,  and  all  have  spoken  in  the  hig-hest  terms 
of  the  g-entlemanly  bearing-  and  Christian  fidelity  of 
Chaplain  Crocker. 

But  faithful  services  rendered  to  those  who  were 
specially  under  his  religious  oversight  did  not  fill  up 


CHAPLAIN    GEORGE    D.    CROCKER, 

1867-1885. 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  97 

the  measure  of  his  usefulness.  He  sought  to  help 
others,  at  first  the  Indians  to  whom  he  could  tell  the 
g-ood  news  of  the  gospel  in  their  own  language,  and 
afterwards  it  was  his  delight  to  cheer  and  comfort  the 
incoming  settlers,  who  were  scattered  as  sheep  having 
no  shepherd.  Through  the  Standard,  and  other  relig- 
ious newspapers,  he  occasionally  gave  notice  to  the 
early  settlers,  of  the  fact  of  his  being  stationed  at  Port 
Sully,  and  his  readiness  to  respond  to  any  calls  for  re- 
ligious services,  or,  assistance  and  comfort  in  cases  of 
sickness  or  death. 

As  a  military  officer,  he  could  not  engage  in  distinc- 
tively denominational  work,  yet  through  frequent  visits 
and  sermons  preached,  he  was  mainly  instrumental  in 
the  organization  of  the  Baptist  churches  at  Pierre  and 
Blunt.  Among  the  homes  in  Pierre  where  he  was 
always  a  welcome  guest  was  that  of  Hon.  D.  C.  Mead. 
In  answer  to  a  request  for  reminiscences  concerning 
Chaplain  Crocker,  Mrs.  Mead  describes  the  zeal  and 
interest  shown  by  him  in  the  matter  of  a  church  organ- 
ization, his  deep  spirituality,  his  gentleness,  and  his 
earnest  desire  to  do  good  to  others,  and  says,  '*My 
thought  of  him  is  that  of  a  pure,  white  soul,  doing  the 
kindest  thing  in  the  kindest  way."  One  of  the  tributes 
to  his  life  and  character,  published  after  his  death,  in 
1888,  by  one  who  knew  him  best  says,  '*The  Christian 
character  of  this  departed  saint  was  one  of  strength 
and  beauty.  His  daily  walk  and  conversation  exempli- 
fied, to  a  remarkable  degree,  the  doctrines  of  the  gospel 
which  it  was  his  delight  to  preach.  A  peculiar  tender- 
ness and  sweetness  of  disposition,  and  a  spirit  of  love 
and  charity  towards  all,  were  most  happily  united  with 
a  firm  unwavering  adherence  to  his  views  of  duty  and 
doctrine." 


98  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

At  the  request  of  the  writer,  who  felt  that  the  ser- 
vices rendered  by  Chaplain  Crocker  entitled  him  -to  an 
honored  record  among*  the  faithful  pioneers  in  the 
Baptist  history  of  South  Dakota,  the  following-  sketch 
of  his  life  and  work  has  been  prepared  by  one  of  his 
daug-hters,  Miss  Mary  G.  Crocker,  of  Denver,  Col.: 

Georg-e  Dauchy  Crocker  was  born  at  Ridg-efield, 
Conn.,  December  25,  1822-  He  was  of  Hug-uenot  ances- 
try, being-  descended  on  the  maternal  side  from  one 
Jacques  D'Auchy,  the  story  of  whose  martyrdom  is 
detailed  in  Benedict's  "History  of  the  Baptists."  His 
father  was  a  useful  local  preacher  of  the  Methodist 
church  at  Ridg-efield.  He  was  converted  at  the  ag-e  of 
16  years,  in  Detroit,  Mich.,  and  was  baptized  at  Dan- 
bury,  Conn.,  by  Rev.  Addison  Parker.  In  1843  he  was 
licensed  to  preach  by  the  Second  Baptist  church  of 
Danbury.  He  received  his  education  at  the  Hamilton 
Literary  and  Theolog-ical  Institution  (now  Colg-ate 
University). 

In  1845  Mr.  Crocker  was  ordained  by  a  council  called 
by  the  Baptist  church  of  Cross  River,  N.  Y.  He  was 
afterward  pastor  at  Cross  River  and  Ithaca,  N.  Y., 
South  Groton,  Newburyport  and  Edg-erton,  Mass.,  and 
Phoenix,  R.  I.,  and  for  some  years  was  city  missionary 
at  Paterson,  N.  J.  In  1852  he  married  Miss  Lydia 
Allen,  of  Providence,  R.  I.,  who  survives  him,  with  a 
son  and  two  daug-hters. 

In  1861  he  received  an  appointment  as  chaplain  of  the 
Sixth  New  York  Volunteer  Cavalry,  and  rendered 
faithful  service  throug-hout  the  war.  Having-  been  thus 
identified  with  the  army  for  that  long-  and  trying  term, 
it  was  but  natural  that  his  interest  in  the  army,  and  his 
missionary  zeal  for  his  Master,  should  prompt  him  to 
seek  an  appointment  in  the  reg-ular  army.  Prom  the 
date  of  that  appointment,  in  1867,  until  1885,  he  was 
stationed  at  two  g-arrisons  in  Dakota  Territory — Port 
Wadsworth  (afterwards  Port  Sisseton-),  and  Port 
Sully — both  now  abandoned. 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  99 

It  was  during'  these  riper  years  of  his  ministry,  and 
on  pioneer  g^round,  that  the  most  efficient  and  telling- 
work  of  his  life  was  done.  Althoug-h  liis  mission  as  an 
army  chaplain  was  chiefly  to  those  connected  with  the 
military  posts  at  which  he  was  stationed,  and  these 
army  duties  were  not  neg-lected,  yet  he  considered  it 
his  duty,  and  made  it  his  privileg-e,  to  preach  and  min- 
ister, wherever  opportunity  offered,  to  the  Sioux 
Indians,  whose  lang-uag-e  he  learned,  and  who  looked 
reverently  upon  him  as  their  friend,  when  by  mo&t  of 
the  whites  they  were  regarded  with  suspicion,  or  even 
disg-ust.  Many  a  time  in  a  smoky  "teepee"  or  a 
stifling-  log-  hut,  he  gathered  a  little  audience  of  dusky 
listeners,  and,  with  his  Dakota  Indian  Bible  in  hand, 
gave  them  the  word  of  eternal  life.  And  many  a  time 
in  his  journeyings  with  his  family  over  prairie  and 
along  river  bottom,  he  would  stop  a  traveling  party  of 
Indians,  or  one  lone  individual,  and  after  preliminary 
courtesies,  give  them  the  good  news  in  their  own 
tongue.  His  quarters  at  Port  Sully  were  the  goal  of 
any  poor  red  man  in  distress  of  any  kind,  and  many  of 
these  heard  the  gospel  there  for  the  first  time  in  their 
lives.  The  seed  was  sown  beside  all  waters,  and  only 
One  knows  what  prospered,  this  or  that. 

When,  however,  the  lands  in  Dakota  were  surveyed 
and  thrown  open  by  the  government  to  settlement,  and 
little  claim  shanties  and  primitive  hamlets  began  to 
spring  up  here  and  there,  the  chaplain  considered  his 
field  enlarged,  and  his  call  to  service  in  the  "regions 
beyond"  was  gladly  answered.  Then  it  was  his  delight 
to  drive  out  from  Port  Sully,  get  acquainted  with  the 
people,  and,  when  his  duties  at  the  garrison  would 
allow,  hold  a  gospel  service  with  those  whose  only 
opportunity  it  was  to  hear  the  gospel  preached.  In 
the  kindly  offered  homes  of  the  settlers,  and  later  in 
school  houses,  or  in  the  open  air,  these  simple  services 
were  held,  followed  by  the  brotherly  hand-grasp  with 
those  in  whose  welfare  he  was  genuinely  interested, 
and  who  learned  to  look  upon  the  chaplain's  face,  with 
its  crown  of  snowy  hair,  and  with  peace  and  good-will 


100  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

beaming-  from  it,  as  the  face  of  their  tried  and  true 
friend. 

This  work,  as  well  as  that  at  the  fort,  was  of  neces- 
sity, not  upon  a  distinctively  denominational  basis.  It 
was  when  a  little  company  of  Baptists  was  found  among- 
the  new  comers  to  the  new  settlement,  since  well  known 
as  Pierre,  that  his  most  fervid  interest  was  awakened 
and  centered.  Recog^nizing-  the  importance  of  the  g"eo- 
g-raphical  location  of  the  town,  and  delig'hting*  in  the 
fellowship  of  brother  Baptists,  from  which  he  had  been 
almost  entirely  cut  off,  he  made  frequent  jour- 
neys with  his  family,  driving  throug-h  bitter  cold,  or 
burningf  heat,  from  his  station,  a  distance  of  thirty 
miles,  that  he  might  meet  with  and  encourage  these 
pioneers  of  the  Baptist  brotherhood  of  Pierre,  since 
become  a  goodly  band.  When  an  organization  was 
effected,  and  a  place  of  meeting  secured,  his  satisfac- 
tion and  gratitude  were  great.  The  wilderness  blos- 
somed as  the  rose.  To  have  a  part,  however  small,  in 
the  fulfilling  of  that  blessed  prophecy,  and  in  the  com- 
ing of  the  king'dom  among  men,  is  no  small  thing.  Al- 
though very  much  of  Chaplain  Crocker's  work  was 
most  quietly  done,  and  in  his  retiring  spirit  he  took  no 
honor  or  credit  to  himself,  even  though  from  much  of 
his  work  there  was  no  apparent  result,  yet  it  is  not  too 
much  to  say  that  the  seed  of  the  kingdom,  sown 
thus  upon  the  virgin  soil  of  the  frontier,  has  in  these 
later  days,  borne  some  fruit  in  the  religious  history  of 
South  Dakota. 

In  1885,  Chaplain  Crocker  was  appointed  Superin- 
tendent of  Education  in  the  army,  and  stationed  at  St. 
Louis,  where  he  remained  until  retired,  according  to 
army  regulation,  at  the  age  of  64,  in  1886.  Some  time 
was  then  spent  in  Detroit,  Mich.,  where  he  expected  to 
make  the  home  of  his  declining  years,  and  where  the 
ministry  of  the  beloved  Dr.  Z.  Grenell  was  a  source  of 
great  delight  to  him.  Later,  as  health  failed,  he  was 
taken  to  the  seashore,  in  the  hope  of  recovery,  but  after 
a  long  and  distressing  mental  and  physical  illness,  the 
faithful  servant  went  from  the  home  of  his  son,  at  Kan- 
':akee.  111.,  to  his  eternal  home,  April  21,  1888. 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  lOl 

Chaplain  Crocker's  devotion  to  his  Master,  to  duty, 
and  to  doctrine,  were  his  strong-est  characteristics,  and 
his  delig*ht  in  the  prosperity  of  his  beloved  denomina- 
tion, was  among-  his  chief  joys.  The  record  of  such  a 
life  is  written  above,  and  in  the  hearts  of  many,  dusky 
of  face,  as  well  as  white,  who  loved  him,  and  to  whom 
he  pointed  the  way  of  life,  in  South  Dakota. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


RET.  GEORGE  W.  FREEMAN. 

The  most  conspicuous  iig-ure  in  the  group  of  early 
pioneer  laborers  in  South  Dakota  is  Rev.  George  W. 
Freeman.  He  was  born  in  Stockbridg-e,  N.  Y.,  Aug-ust 
10,  1819.  After  completing-  his  education  he  came  to 
Wisconsin  in  1851,  and  became  pastor  at  Whitewater. 
Other  pastorates  in  Wisconsin  were  at  Horicon,  Lake 
City,  New  Lisbon,  and  Kilbourn  City.  For  several 
years  he  had  charg-e  of  a  young-  ladies'  seminary  at  Pox 
Lake,  Wisconsin.  During-  the  progress  of  the-  work  of 
building-  the  Union  Pacific  and  Central  Pacific  rail- 
roads, he  was  employed  by  the  American  Baptist  Home 
Mission  Society  to  lead  in  pioneer  missionary  work  at 
various  important  points  along  the  lines  of  these  traUvS- 
continental  roads  between  Omaha  and  the  Pacific  coast. 
Several  churches  were  organized  and  houses  of  wor- 
ship built  under  his  superintendence. 

After  a  preliminary  visit  to  Dakota  in  1870,  he  was 
appointed  general  missionary  for  the  territory.  He 
entered  on  the  duties  of  this  office  March  1,  1871,  and 
served  two  years  and  a  half.  During  that  time  ten  new 
churches  were  organized  and  several  houses  of  worship 
were  built.  Nearly  all  of  the  white  population  of 
Dakota  were  then  living  in  scattered  settlements  in  a 
few  of  the  southern  counties  of  the  territory.  Though 
alone  at  first,  except  Chaplain  G.  D.  Crocker,  of  the 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  103 

reg-ular  army,  who  was  stationed  at  Port  Sully,  and 
Rev.  P.  A.  Ring-,  pastor  of  the  Swedish  Baptist  church 
at  Big-  Spring's,  other  pioneer  ministers  soon  came  to 
serve  as  pastors  of  newly  organized  churches. 

Reference  is  made  elsewhere  to  the  services  ren- 
dered by  Mr.  Freeman,  and  a  fuller  account  is  g-iven 
in  the  accompanying-  historical  paper,  furnished  by 
him.  For  some  years  after  he  ceased  to  be  g-eneral 
missionary,  he  was  pastor  at  Elk  Point,  and  here  he 
made  his  home  from  1871  vintil  he  was  taken  to  his 
heavenly  home.  During-  the  last  nine  or  ten  years  of 
his  life,  while  not  serving-  anywhere  as  pastor,  he  ren- 
dered excellent  service  as  supply  on  various  pastorless 
fields.  He  did  not  want  to  be  idle,  but  desired  to  be 
useful  while  he  lived,  and  this  desire  was  g-ratified. 
Thoug-h  always  a  warm  and  g-enerous  friend  of  Sioux 
Falls  University,  and  actively  identified  with  it  from 
its  beg-inning-,  he  was  able  during-  the  last  few  months 
of  his  life  to  render  specially  helpful  service  as  its 
financial  ag-ent,  in  active  measures  for  removing-  its 
indebtedness  and  increasing-  its  endowment.  He  died 
suddenly,  of  heart  failure,  at  his  home  in  Elk  Point, 
March  13,  1895.  A  life  that  had  always  been  active 
and  useful  came,  almost  without  warning-,  to  its  honor- 
able ending-.  His  death  is  mourned  by  those  who 
remember  him  during-  the  period  of  his  pioneer  work, 
and  by  many  who  knew  him  after  he  had  reached  a 
ripe  old  ag-e.  After  impressive  funeral  services  at  the 
Baptist  church,  his  remains  were  taken  for  burial  to 
Lake  City,  Minnesota. 

The  following-  condensed  historical  sketch  was  pre- 
pared by  Mr.  Freeman  in  September,  1874.  This  early 
date  will  explain  references  to  preliminary  missionary 
work  on  one  or  two  fields  where  now  there  are  flourish- 


104  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

ing-  Baptist  churches.  In  explanation  of  the  reference 
to  the  org'anization  of  churches  at  Yankton  in  1867,  and 
at  Vermillion  and  Elk  Point  in  1868,  the  reader  is  re- 
ferred to  the  historical  paper  furnished  by  Mr.  Rock- 
wood,  and  published  in  Chapter  VII.  Por  information 
concerning  the  services  rendered  in  1864  and  1865  by 
Rev.  L.  P.  Judson  and  Rev.  Albert  Gore,  see  Chapter 
VI. 


The  American  Baptist  Home  Mission  Society,  in  its 
report  for  1873,  has  the  following  item:  "Our  first  mis- 
sionary to  Dakota  was  Rev.  L.  P.  Judson,  who  went 
there  in  1864."  As  the  result  of  diligent  inquiry  one 
Baptist  was  found  in  Yankton  who  had  seen  and  heard 
him.  For  a  short  time  he  was  there  engaged  in  secular 
business,  and  in  connection  therewith,  preached  two  or 
three  discourses. 

In  1867  Rev.  J.  E.  Rockwood,  missionary  pastor  at 
Sioux  City,  Iowa,  make  some  visits  up  the  Missouri 
river,  preaching  at  Elk  Point,  Vermillion  and  Yankton. 
On  February  3,  1867,  he  organized  a  Baptist  church  at 
Yankton.  In  connection  with  this  movement  at  Yank- 
ton, preliminary  organizations  were  effected  at  Elk 
Point  and  Vermillion.  The  date  of  the  organization  at 
Vermillion  was  February  16,  1868.  On  account  of  fail- 
ing health  he  resigned  his  charge  at  Sioux  City  (August, 
1869),  and  these  interests  were  left  with  no  one  to  care 
for  them.  It  would  be  unjust  to  Bro.  Rockwood  not  to 
make  honorable  mention  of  his  zeal  and  devotion  to  this 
work,  the  self-denial  and  sacrifices  necessary  in  order 
to  visit  this  wild  country,  and  preach  the  gospel  to  the 
Lord's  poor  in  these  regions  lying  bevond  his  regular 
field. 

The  Big  Springs  Swedish  Baptist  church  was  organ- 
ized in  July,  1869,  Rev.  P.  A.  Ring,  pastor. 

In  November,  1870,  while  engaged  in  general  mission- 
ary work  on  the  Union  and  Central  Pacific  railroads,  I 
felt  moved  in  spirit  to  visit  Dakota,  and  learn  the  wants 


REV.  GEORGE    ^V.  FREEMAN, 

1S71-1S9S. 

FIRST    GENERAL    MISSIONARY,    1S71-1S74. 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  1()5 

of  the  people.  I  came  to  Elk  Point  December  12,  1870, 
and  the  same  week  visited  Vermillion  and  Yankton. 
On  Tuesday  evening",  December  20,  met  at  the  resi- 
dence of  M.  D.  Thompson  and  there  org-anized  (re- 
org^anized)  the  First  Baptist  church  of  Vermillion.  At 
that  meeting-  plans  were  adopted  and  subscriptions 
beg-un  for  a  house  of  worship. 

I  reported  to  the  Home  Mission  Society  my  impres- 
sions of  the  field  and  its  pressing-  needs,  and  was 
appointed  g'eneral  missionary  for  the  Territory  of 
Dakota.  On  the  first  day  of  March,  1871,  I  came  to 
Dakota  for  ag-g-ressive  work,  beg-inning-  at  Elk  Point. 
On  March  11,  I  organized  there  a  Baptist  church.  At 
that  time  the  nearest  Eng-lish-speaking-  Baptist  minis- 
ter was  at  Council  Bluffs  and  Omaha,  nearly  150  miles 
south.  [Chaplain  G.  D.  Crocker,  of  the  reg-ular  army, 
was  then  stationed  at  Port  Sully.  T.  M.  S.]  On  the 
25th  of  the  same  month  I  org-anized  a  Baptist  church 
at  Sioux  Valley,  called  afterward  Leroy,  later  Port- 
landville,  now  Akron.  These  churches  were  all  sup- 
plied by  the  g-eneral  missionary  until  October  following', 
when  Rev.  J.  H.  Young  became  pastor  of  the  Elk  Point 
and  Sioux  Valley  churches.  His  ordination,  which 
occurred  at  Elk  Point,  January  17,  1872,  was  the  first 
in  the  territory.  He  soon  after  became  pastor  at 
Yankton,  and  having*  proved  unworthy  of  his  trust,  he 
was  deposed  from  the  ministry  November  12,  1872. 
Rev.  E.  H.  Hurlbutt  became  pastor  at  Vermillion, 
September  1,  1871,  and  served  one  year  and  a  half. 
Rev.  T.  H.  Judson  settled  as  pastor  at  Elk  Point,  Octo- 
ber 3,  1872,  and  after  a  year  of  service  there,  was 
called  to  Vermillion.  The  Swedish  church  at  Bloom- 
ingdale  was  organized  by  Rev.  P.  A.  Ring-,  October 
15,  1871.  Brother  J.  Peterson  was  soon  after  ordained 
and  became  its  first  pastor. 

In  the  spring  of  1873,  the  house  of  worship  at  Elk 
Point  was  begun,  and  finished  a  few  months  later. 
Rev.  J.  P.  Coffman,  became  pastor  there  January  9, 
1874.  The  Eodi  church  was  organized  by  the  general 
missionary  July  13,  1871.     In  the  following  November 


106         THE  BAPTlvST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

Rev.  J.  Iv.  Cappoc  became  pastor.  The  following- 
winter  was  one  of  unusual  severity.  Roads  became 
blockaded,  and  the  people  could  not  attend  appoint- 
ments for  preaching-.  Brother  Coppoc  was  environed 
by  many  difficulties  of  so  serious  a  character  as  to  have 
driven  a  man  of  weaker  faith  from  the  field.  On  the 
first  of  October,  1872,  he  became  pastor  of  the  Sioux 
Valley  church,  and  served  it  until  February,  1874. 
Rev.  F.  Bower  became  pastor  at  Yankton,  February  1, 
1874,  but  remained  only  a  few  months. 

The  church  at  Canton  was  org-anized  March  18,  1872. 
In  October,  1871,  Rev.  J.  J.  Mclntire  came  to  the  terri- 
tory and  established  a  home  on  the  Vermillion  river, 
near  Hurley.  In  connection  with  other  points  he 
served  the  church  at  Canton.  These  visits  and  the 
services  rendered  were  attended  with  g-ood  results. 
The  scattered  sheep  of  the  Baptist  fold  were  g-athered 
in,  and  the  field  was  held  for  the  coming-  settled  pastor. 
At  first  Brother  Mclntire  traversed  a  wild  and 
sparsely  settled  country  to  reach  his  appointments,  with 
no  roads  except  the  faint  trails  made  by  himself  and 
others  in  g"oing  to  their  new  homes.  These  visits 
meant  toil,  hardship,  exposure,  and  often  peril.  Rev. 
V.  B.  Conklin  settled  at  Canton  in  October,  1873,  and 
became  missionary  for  Lincoln  county.  The  Danish 
Baptists  organized  the  Baptist  church  at  Lodi,  March 
25,  1872.  This  soon  increased  to  over  forty  members, 
many  of  the  members  living-  nearly  twenty  miles  dis- 
tant. This  led  the  following  year  to  a  friendly  divis- 
ion, and  resulted  in  the  org-anization,  December  31, 
1873,  of  the  Danish  church  at  Daneville. 

In  the  fall  of  1871  the  g-eneral  missionary  visited  and 
held  services  in  Dell  Rapids.  Helpful  and  encouraging- 
visits  were  made  by  Prof.  A.  Bush  of  Osag-e,  Iowa, 
who,  on  the  21st  of  July,  1872,  organized  a  Baptist 
church,  which  was  recognized  by  the  g-eneral  mission- 
ary on  the  28th  of  the  same  month.  On  the  first  of 
June,  1872,  Rev.  William  Hill  became  the  first  pastor 
of  the  church.  This  was  then  the  most  northern 
church  or  mission  in  Dakota,  except  the  Indian  mission* 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  107 

at  Plandreau,  conducted  by  the  Presbyterian  board. 
The  Swan  Lake  church,  now  Hurley,  was  organized 
December  9,  1872,  as  the  result  of  revival  meetings 
conducted  by  Rev.  J.  J.  Mclntire.  He  was  called  as 
its  pastor  on  the  day  of  its  organization. 

The  Baptist  church  of  Pinlay,  now  Parker,  was 
organized  by  the  general  missionary  and  Brother 
Mclntire,  December  25,  1872.  The  services  were  held 
on  the  evening  of  Christmas  day,  at  the  residence  of 
Rev.  J.  J.  Mclntire.  This  organization  occupies  an 
important  field.  The  Gayville  church  was  organized 
June  7,  1873,  with  nine  members.  This  field  was  early 
occupied  by  Rev.  E.  H.  Hurlbutt,  through  whom  the 
organization  was  effected,  assisted  by  Rev.  J.  J.  Mcln- 
tire. Initial  steps  were  taken  to  erect  a  chapel  at  this 
place.  (No  chapel  was  built,  and  for  several  years  the 
church  has  been  extinct).  Sioux  Palls  has  been  visited 
from  time  to  time  and  services  held  by  the  general  mis- 
sionary. Prequent  conferences  have  been  held  with 
the  few  Baptists  in  that  place  with  reference  to  an 
organization.  On  the  29th  of  June,  1873,  a  service  was 
held  there.  This  was  followed  by  a  canvass  of  the 
community.  Ten  Baptists  were  found,  willing  to  enter 
into  an  organization,  but  as  others  hesitated,  no  church 
was  organized  at  that  time. 

The  Southern  Dakota  Baptist  Association  was  organ- 
ized at  Vermillion,  with  nine  churches  and  seven  min- 
isters, including  the  general  missionary,  and  157  mem- 
bers. The  date  of  its  organization  was  June  5,  1872, 
on  the  day  following-  the  dedication  of  the  new  house  of 
worship  erected  by  the  Vermillion  church.  The 
officers  elected  were  the  following:  Rev.  G.  W.  Pree- 
man,  moderator;  Martin  J.  Lewis,  clerk;  Rev.  E.  H. 
Hurlbutt,  corresponding  secretary;  and  Deacon  M.  D. 
Weston,  treasurer.  This  gathering-  was  fully  attended, 
and  was  characterized  by  a  unity  of  purpose  to  go 
forth  and  occupy  this  fair  country  for  Christ. 

The  first  Baptist  house  of  worship  dedicated  in  Da- 
kota was  the  one  at  Vermillion,  June  4,  1872.     At  the 


108  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

laying-  of  the  corner-stone  of  the  present  house  of  wor- 
ship October  8,  1889,  a  brief  historical  sketch,  having- 
special  reference  to  the  first  building-,  was  read  by  Rev. 
G.  W.  Freeman.  Prom  that  paper  the  following-  ex- 
tracts are  taken: 

"At  a  meeting-  of  the  church  held  December  20,  1870, 
plans  for  building-  a  chapel  were  examined  and  dis- 
cussed. It  resulted  in  the  adoption  of  a  resolution  to 
build,  at  an  early  day,  after  the  model  of  the  house 
which  has  been  in  use  for  more  than  seventeen  years. 
During-  the  winter  material  for  building-  was  secured. 
On  a  careful  survey  of  the  townsite  it  was  decided  that 
the  most  central  location,  and  easiest  of  access  to  the 
people  both  in  the  villag-e  and  the  country  was  at  the 
mouth  of  the  larg-e  ravine,  throug-h  which  passed  nearly 
all  who  traveled  to  and  from  the  table  lands.  At  that 
time  only  a  few  people  were  living-  on  the  bluffs. 

Captain  Nelson  Miner  offered  the  Baptist  church  a 
deed  of  three  full  lots  on  the  wx^st  side  of  the  street  at 
the  mouth  of  the  ravine.  This  g-jft  was  g-ratefully  ac- 
cepted. For  ten  years  it  seemed  to  all,  and  was  in  fact, 
the  most  central  location  for  a  church,  up  to  the  dis- 
astrous flood  in  March,  1881.  A  young-  Baptist  brother, 
of  limited  means,  named  A.  T.  Force,  subscfribed  one 
hundred  dollars  towards  the  erection  of  the  building-. 
Being-  by  trade  a  carpenter,  he  was  chosen  to  take 
charg-e  of  the  work,  which  was  beg-un  May  1,  1871,  and 
completed  in  the  spring-  of  1882.  It  was  dedicated  free 
from  debt,  on  the  evening-  of  June  4,  1872,  Rev.  T.  H. 
Young-,  preaching-  the  dedication  sermon.  The  actual 
cost  of  the  building-  was  $2,200.  If  donations  of  lalfor 
and  materials  were  included  the  total  valuation  could 
not  be  less  than  $2,500.  About  four  years  later  a  lec- 
ture room  was  added,  costing-  about  $400. 

"Soon  after  the  dedication  Mr.  Chas.  H.  True,  editor 
and  proprietor  of  the  Vermillion  Republican,  led  in  an 
undertaking-  to  secure  a  suitable  bell  for  the  church 
building-.  The  effort  was  successful.  This  was  the 
first  Protestant  church  bell  in  the  Territory  of  Dakota. 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  109 

In  the  darkness  of  that  sad  nig-ht  in  March,  1881,  when 
the  flood  waters  of  the  American  Amazon  poured 
throug-h  the  streets  of  Vermillion,  that  bell  rang-  out 
the  warning  of  dang-er,  and  awakened  the  sleeping-  citi- 
zens so  that  they  could  flee  for  safety  to  the  bluffs.  If 
it  had  not  been  for  the  warning-  tones  of  that  church 
bell,  by  which  the  people  were  aroused  to  know  their 
dang-er,  many  of  them  would  undoubtedly  have  perished 
in  the  flood  which  carried  away  one  hundred  and 
eig-hteen  building-s.  The  Baptist  church  building-  was 
saved.  The  location  of  Vermillion  was  at  once  chang-ed 
from  the  low  lands  to  the  bluffs  overlooking-  its  former 
site.  The  church  building-  which  had  for  years  been 
centrally  located,  was  now  out  of  the  way,  and  not 
easily  accessible  to  the  people.  An  unsuccessful  effort 
was  made  to  sell  the  property.  It  was  then  decided  to 
move  it  up  the  long-  ravine  to  the  bluffs  on  which  Ver- 
million was  rapidly  being-  rebuilt.  The  lecture  room 
was  first  taken  away  and  moved  to  its  present  location 
as  a  part  of  the  present  parsonag'e.  The  church  build- 
ing- was  then  removed  in  September,  1881,  to  its  pres- 
ent site,  g-reatly  to  the  joy  and  satisfaction  of  the 
church.  For  more  than  three  years  there  had  been  no 
pastor  to  lead  and  feed  the  flock.  Since  the  removal  of 
the  building*  and  the  improvements  and  additions  made, 
there  has  been  almost  continual  pastoral  work  on  this 
field,  and  a  good  measure  of  prosperity  as  its  fruitag-e." 


CHAPTER  X. 


RET.  E.  H.  HtlRLBUTT. 

The  first  general  missionary  Rev.  G.  W.  Freeman, 
was  six  months  on  his  field  before  the  first  English 
speaking  pastor  was  secured,  Rev.  E.  H.  Hurlbutt. 
He  came  from  Jefferson  City,  Mo.,  and  settled  as  pastor 
of  the  church  at  Vermillion,  September  1,  1871.  He 
was  an  active  force  among  the  pioneer  workers  in 
Dakota  Territory.  He  served  as  pastor  of  several 
churches,  some  of  which  he  organized.  His  daughter 
became  the  wife  of  Mr.  D.  P.  Ward,  who  was  for 
several  years  State  Sunday  school  Missionary  for 
South  Dakota.  After  seventeen  years  of  pioneer  service 
and  hardship,  on  account  of  failing  health,  Mr.  Hurlbutt 
removed,  in  1888,  to  Oilville,  Virginia.  He  has  fur- 
nished the  following  statement  of  his  Dakota  experi- 
ences and  labors.  It  is  very  brief  on  account  of  a 
disabled  hand,  which  makes  writing  painful  and  diffi- 
cult. 

During  a  successful  pastorate  at  Jefferson  City,  Mo., 
I  was  invited  by  Rev.  G.  W.  Freeman,  general  mission- 
ary, to  come  to  Dakota  Territory.  I  came,  and  accepted 
the  call  of  the  church  at  Vermillion,  September  1,  1871. 
I  was  the  first  American  Baptist  pastor  settled  in  the 
Territory.  A  Swedish  pastor,  Rev.  P.  A.  Ring,  was 
already  settled  at  Big  Springs.  This  pastorate  at  Ver- 
million lasted  a  year  and  a  half.  It  would  have  con- 
tinued longer  but  for  outside  interference.  While 
serving  the  church  there  their  house  of  worship  was 
completed,  and  dedicated  free  from  debt,  June  4,  1872. 


REV.  E.  H.  HURLBUTT, 

1S71-1S88. 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  Ill 

On  the  following'  day  the  first  Baptist  association  was 
organized  at  Vermillion. 

During-  1873-4  I  supplied  some  out-stations,  including 
one  near  Gayville,  w^hich  culminated  in  the  organization 
of  a  Baptist  church  there,  June  7,  1873.  The  prospects 
for  this  church  were  at  first  very  encouraging.  A  lot 
was  donoted,  and  most  of  the  lumber  was  secured  for 
building  a  house  or  worship,  when  the  mill  and  lumber 
interests  just  above  were  moved  elsewhere.  With  that 
removal  followed  the  scattering  of  nearly  all  the  active 
elements  in  the  church.  The  church  clerk,  with  his 
family,  returned  to  Iowa.  Only  one  Baptist  family 
was  left.  Deacon  Langdale  and  his  wife.  The  Gayville 
Baptist  church  thus  passed  out  of  existence.  One  had 
been  baptized  there,  and  others  were  expecting  to  unite 
with  the  organization.  From  this  time  forward  services 
were  transferred  to  the  new  railroad  station  at  Meek- 
ling,  and  several  of  our  people  there  later  became 
members  of  the  church  at  Vermillion.  I  baptized  one 
at  L/odi. 

During  1874-5,  other  stations  were  occupied.  Mean- 
while I  had  been  induced  to  file  upon  a  homestead  in 
Lincoln  county.  In  the  spring  of  1876  I  was  called 
there  to  attend  a  funeral.  This  was  on  Saturday. 
Being'  informed  that  the  recent  high  waters  had  carried 
away  many  of  the  bridges,  and  that  it  would  be  impos- 
sible for  me  to  reach  my  appointment  at  Meckling,  on 
the  following  day,  I  yielded  to  their  earnest  entreaty  to 
remain  and  preach  on  Sunday.  This  appointment  was 
continued  through  the  summer  every  four  weeks,  and 
through  the  winter,  with  rapidly  increasing  interest, 
until  special  meetings  became  necessary.  Later  in  the 
winter  souls  were  coming  into  the  kingdom,  until  in  the 
spring  of  1877,  we  felt  warranted  in  organizing  a 
church,  which  later  became  known  as  the  Centerville 
Baptist  church.  The  town  of  Centerville  was  not  then 
in  existence.  The  services  were  held,  part  of  the 
time,  in  a  small  school  house,  but  generally  in  the 
home  of  Deacon  B.  P.  Putnam.  The  family  cheerfully 
arranged  the  house  to  accommodate  these  gatherings, 
which  were  then  held  once  in  two  weeks. 


112  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

During-  this  same  winter,  1877,  I  had  been  prevailed 
upon  to  fill  appointments  every  two  weeks  in  Deacon 
Kinsley's  neig-hborhood,  west  of  Canton,  during*  Rev. 
,  V.  B.  Conklin's  absence  in  the  east.  This  was  the  east 
branch  of  the  Lincoln  church.  A  deep  relig-ious  inter- 
est was  soon  developed.  I  was  responsible  for  the 
work  there  and  at  Deacon  Putnam's  neig'hborhood, 
nearly  twenty  miles  away,  and  at  the  same  time  I  was 
teaching-  school.  On  Brother  Conklin's  return  several 
converts  were  baptized  by  him.  I  baptized  two,  one  of 
them  being-  my  own  daug-hter.  Soon  after  the  organi- 
zation of  the  church  at  Deacon  Putnam's,  now  Center- 
ville,  I  was  invited  to  divide  my  time  as  pastor  equally 
between  the  Centerville  church  and  the  Baptist  church 
of  Sunnyside.  This  latter  church  some  years  after 
became  extinct.  Some  who  had  once  been  enrolled 
among-  its  members  entered  a  new  org-anization  at 
Beresford  in  1890.  Baptisms  during-  that  pastorate 
numbered  twenty  or  more.  I  resig-ned  as  pastor  at 
Sunnyside  in  November,  1881,  and  at  Centerville  in 
July,  1882.  During-  this  period  I  spent  the  winter  of 
1879-80  in  the  east,  eng-ag-ed  in  evang-elistic  work,  and 
visiting-'  m}^  mother,,  and  the  scenes  of  my  childhood 
days.  This  was  the  first  real  vacation  I  had  had  since 
entering-  the  ministry  in  1864. 

After  my  return  I  was  called  to  the  pastorate  of  the 
church  in  Akron,  which  continued  throug-h  1882  and 
1883.  While  pastor  there  a  parsonag-e  was  built.  I  did 
a  larg-e  proportion  of  the  work  on  it  myself.  Ag-ain  I 
was  absent  from  Dakota  in  the  spring-  of  1884,  serving- 
for  three  months  as  supply  for  the  Baptist  church  in 
Judsonia,  Arkansas.  Thenceforward  my  labors  were 
increasingly  interfered  with  by  the  growing  serious 
effects  of  an  accident  which  came  near  costing  me  my 
life,  having  been  thrown  from  a  loaded  wagon.  One 
wheel  passed  over  my  breast  and  left  lung,  and  I  was 
picked  up  as  one  supposed  to  be  dead.  As  the  years 
passed  by,  on  the  approach  of  cold  weather,  my  side 
troubled  me  more  and  more  each  winter.  In  the  spring 
of  1880  we  turned  southward  to  seek  a  milder  climate, 
and  since  then  my  health  has  gradually  improved. 


REV.  J.  J.  McINTIRE, 

1871-1899. 

TERRITORIAL   SUPERINTENDENT    OF    PUBLIC    INSTRUCTION,    1S75-6, 
PRESIDENT   SOUTH    DAKOTA    BAPTIST   CONVENTION,    1S95. 


CHAPTER  XI. 


ICEV.  J.  J.  McINTIRE. 

The  oldest  surviving-  pioneer  missionary  who  yet 
remains  in  South  Dakota,  is  Rev.  J.  J.  Mclntire.  After 
"•raduating*  at  Rochester  University  and  Rochester 
Theological  Seminary  he  came  to  Wisconsin.  Several 
years  were  spent  there  as  pastor  and  teacher.  In  Oc- 
tober, 1871,  he  came  to  Dakota  and  eng-ag-ed  actively  in 
missionary  work.  In  the  early  days  of  the  territory 
he  was  Territorial  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruc- 
tion, and  afterwards  served  several  years  as  a  teacher. 
Most  of  the  time,  however,  has  been  devoted  to  the 
active  work  of  the  ministry.  He  is  the  oldest  pastor 
in  the  state.  He  has  been  prevailed  upon  to  record 
some  of  the  many  trying-  and  interesting-  experiences 
of  pioneer  missionary  life.  The  following-  historical 
paper  furnishes  a  valuable  and  interesting-  chapter  in 
the  early  Baptist  history  of  South  Dakota. 

THE  PIONEER  BAPTISTS  OF  DAKOTA. 

I  have  consented,  after  urgent  solicitation,  to  give  a 
brief  sketch  of  the  early  history  of  the  Baptists  of 
Dakota.  This  paper  will  include  references  to  some  of 
the  personal  labors  and  experiences  of  the  pioneers  who 
led  the  way  in  planting  churches,  and  laying  the 
foundations  of  our  denominational  work. 

On  the  17th  of  October,  1871,  we  reached  our  location 
on  the  Vermillion  river,  ten  miles  from  the  nearest 
settler.     Our   first    Sunday  was    spent   in  Vermillion, 


114  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

where  we  found  the  Rev.  E.  H.  Hurlbutt.  He  had  pre- 
ceded us  by  eig-hteen  days,  and  had  just  become  pastor 
at  Vermillion.  Rev.  G.  W.  Freeman  had  visited  that 
place  in  December,  1870,  and  on  the  20th  day  of  that 
month,  he  revived  the  organization  of  the  Vermillion 
Baptist  church,  which  was  beg-un  by  Rev.  J.  E.  Rock- 
wood,  February  16, 1868.  Of  churches  now  existing-  that 
stands  recorded  as  the  first  American  Baptist  church 
org-anized  in  the  Territory  of  Dakota.  Two  months 
later,  on  the  first  of  March,  1871,  Rev.  G.  W.  Free- 
man came  to  Elk  Point,  and  became  g-eneral  missionary 
for  what  was  then  the  Territory  of  Dakota.  These  two 
brethren.  Freeman  and  Hurlbutt,  were  at  that  time  the 
only  English  speaking  Baptist  ministers  in  the  terri- 
tory, with  the  exception  of  Rev.  G.  D.  Crocker,  chap- 
lain in  the  regular  army,  who  was  then  stationed  at 
Fort  Sully. 

We  learned  that  Baptist  churches  had  been  organized 
at  Yankton,  February  3,  1867,  and  at  Vermillion,  Feb- 
ruary 16,  1868,  and  in  April,  1868,  a  preliminary  organ- 
ization at  Elk  Point,  by  Rev.  J.  E.  Rockwood,  missionary 
pastor  at  Sioux  City.  Mr.  Rockwood  is  still  living  at 
Peru,  Nebraska.  His  name  should  go  down  to  history 
as  that  of  the  first  Baptist  minister  who  did  successful 
religious  work  here  in  the  planting  of  churches.  The 
faithful  labors  of  this  self-sacrificing  man  of  God 
should  not  be  overlooked  in  the  truthful  history  of  our 
denomination  here,  in  the  days  of  its  infancy.  We 
doubt  not  that  the  book  in  which  the  recording  angel 
writes,  contains  a  record  of  trials  and  sufferings  expe- 
rienced by  this  brother,  as  he  pushed  his  way  from 
settlement  to  settlement,  in  search  of  the  scattered 
ones  whom  he  desired  to  gather  up,  and  to  whom  he 
gave  the  bread  of  life ;  but  the  story  of  his  difficulties 
and  hardships  in  fording  streams,  wading  through  deep 
snows  and  breasting  severe  storms,  can  never  be  told 
on  earth  except  by  himself.  His  visits  to  the  new  set- 
tlements along  the  Missouri  river  began  in  March, 
1866,  and  ended  in  August,  1869.  In  July,  1869, 
Rev.  P.   A.    Ring,   a   Baptist    minister    from   Sweden, 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  115 

org*anized  a  Swedish  Baptist  church  at  Bi(>-  Spring-s,  in 
Union  county.  This  church  has  been  g^reatly  blessed 
as  a  source  of  spiritual  power,  and  a  center  of  relig-ious 
influence,  among*  the  numerous  Swedes  and  other 
nationalities  in  that  thickly  settled  reg-ion. 

In  the  summer  of  1872,  by  the  aid  of  Prof.  Alva  Bush 
and  Rev.  H.  J.  Parker  of  Iowa,  the  church  at  Dell 
Rapids  was  organized.  Rev.  Wm.  T.  Hill  became  its 
first  pastor  June  7,  1872. 

On  March  18,  1872,  Rev.  G.  W.  Freeman  opened 
preaching-  stations  in  Lincoln  county,  and  org-anized  the 
scattered  Baptists  into  a  church,  with  headquarters  at 
Canton.  Most  of  the- preaching-  was  done  in  private 
houses  throughout  the  county.  At  that  time  there 
were  no  school  houses  except  in  the  small  towns  along 
the  river.  There  were  no  railways,  and  no  means  of 
travel  except  by  private  conveyance.  There  had  been 
no  advantage  gained  to  relieve  the  tediousness  and  suf- 
fering of  long-  rides  across  the  prairies,  since  the  time 
when  Rev.  J.  E.  Rockwood  left  Dakota.  What  we  have 
said  of  the  trials  and  sacrifices  of  that  brother,  must 
therefore  be  equally  true  of  Rev.  G.  W.  Freeman.  But 
his  faith  in  God,  and  his  love  for  pioneer  work,  urged 
him  on,  and  he  lived  to  see  the  wonderful  success  of  the 
cause,  in  the  introduction  of  which  he  acted  so  con- 
spicuous a  part. 

In  June,  1872,  the  writer,  under  the  advice  of  the 
general  missionary,  received  from  the  American  Home 
Mission  Society,  a  commission  to  labor  in  Turner,  Clay 
and  Lincoln  counties.  His  preaching  stations  were  at 
Canton,  Lodi,  Finlay,  Swan  Lake,  and  two  outstations, 
one  west  of  Canton,  and  the  other  northwest  of  Lodi. 
Starting  from  Finlay,  in  Turner  county,  his  field  re- 
quired a  ride  of  from  seventy-five  to  one  hundred  and 
fifty  miles  each  week.  At  times,  when  the  streams 
were  swollen  after  heavy  rains,  or  the  roads  drifted  on 
account  of  snow,  it  was  necessary  to  go  a  long-  way 
around  in  order  to  reach  these  stations.  This  caused 
much  more  travel  some  weeks  than  others,  yet  not  more 
than  one  appointment  was  missed  d-iring  two  years  of 


116  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

labor.  We  will  relate  two  or  three  incidents  which  will 
show  something"  of  the  difficulties,  and  sometimes  dan- 
g-ers,  to  which  those  who  were  determined  to  be  prompt 
and  faithful  were  exposed. 

On  one  occasion,  in  the  summer  of  1872,  the  writer 
was  at  Heckling-,  five  miles  west  of  Vermillion,  late  on 
Saturday  afternoon,  on  his  way  to  fill  an  appointment 
at  Swan  Lake,  near  Hurley.  He  must  travel  thirty- 
five  miles  to  the  north  before  11  o'clock  the  following- 
day.  It  was  at  that  season  of  the  year  when  the  melted 
snows  on  the  Rocky  Mountains  were  pouring  down  the 
Missouri  river,  and  overflowing-  its  banks.  The  river 
bottom,  or  valley,  was  covered,  most  of  the  way,  with 
water  from  one  to  four  feet  deep.  It  was  three  miles 
from  the  hotel  where  the  missionary  stopped  to  feed 
his  horse  and  rest,  to  the  table  land.  On  the  north 
side  of  the  river,  near  this  table  land,  is  Clay  Creek. 
This  stream,  which  was  then  from  five  to  ten  feet  deep, 
must  be  crossed  in  g'oing-  to  Sw^an  Lake.  The  mission- 
ary was  hitching-  up  his  horse  when  the  hotel  proprie- 
tor, not  knowing-  the  name  or  business  of  his  g-uest, 
said:  "My  friend,  you  cannot  cross  the  creek  tonig-ht. 
For  three  miles  you  will  have  to  wade  in  water  two 
to  three  feet  deep.  It  will  be  dark  before  you  can  g-et 
to  the  creek,  and  its  waters  are  so  deep  that  you  will 
be  drowned  if  you  attempt  to  cross."  "But  I  must 
g-o,"  was  the  reply,  "for  the  people  who  live  several 
miles  away  will  be  at  the  meeting-  tomorrow,  and  I 
must  not  disappoint  them."  "A  preacher,  hey?  Well, 
that  won't  save  you  from  being-  drowned.  If  you  are 
short  of  money,  as  most  preachers  are,  you  are  wel- 
come to  the  best  that  we  can  g-ive  you,  if  you  won't 
attempt  to  cross  that  creek  tonight." 

Just  as  the  missionary^was  ready  to  start  two  men 
drove  up  who  had  crossed  the  stream.  They  assured 
him  that  what  the  hotel  keeper  had  said  was  true,  and 
stated  that  they  and  their  horses  had  to  swim  across 
the  creek  after  drawing  their  wagon  over  by  means  of 
ropes.  This  statement  led  him  to  accept  the  invitation 
to  remain  at  the  hotel  until  morning.     As  soon  as  day- 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  117 

light  appeared,  he  arose  and  started.  After  driving"  in 
water  axle  deep  for  nearly  two  hours  he  reached  the 
creek.  Finding-  near  its  banks  a  knoll  which  was  out 
of  water,  he  drove  his  carriag^e  upon  it,  and  divesting" 
himself  of  all  of  his  clothing-,  he  plung-ed  into  the 
stream  to  ascertain  its  depth.  He  found  one  place 
that  he  could  ford  by  holding-  his  head  back  and  walk- 
ing- on  tiptoe.  He  returned,  and  holding-  his  clothing- 
at  arm's  lengfth  above  his  head,  took  it  across.  Then, 
in  like  manner,  he  took  over  his  robe,  cushions,  horse 
feed,  etc.,  until  he  had  made  five  trips  across  the 
stream.  Then  he  led  his  horse,  which  being-  of  the  pony 
order,  had  to  swim  and  draw  the  submerg-ed  bug-g-y 
with  him.  In  a  little  while  the  man  whose  motto  was, 
"Never  disappoint  a  cong-reg-ation,"  was  on  his  way. 
Just  as  the  people  had  g-athered  in  the  first  school 
house  ever  built  in  Turner  county,  he  entered  the 
house,  strong  in  faith,  and  thoug-h  weary  and  hung-ry, 
experienced,  with  the  congreg-ation,  the  fulfillment  of 
the  promise:  "Blessed  are  they  that  do  hung-er  and 
thirst  after  rig-hteousness,  for  they  shall  be  filled." 

At  another  time,  in  March,  1873,  the  melted  snow 
filled  the  small  streams  and  valleys,  and  rendered  it 
both  difficult  and  dang-erous  to  cross  the  prairies.  The 
missionary,  who  had  an  appointment  at  Canton,  twenty- 
five  miles  southeast  of  where  he  lived,  was  oblig-ed  to 
g-o  south  forty  miles  to  Blooming-dale,  where  there  was 
a  bridg-e  across  the  river.  This  broug-ht  him  below 
where  Saddle  Creek  and  other  streams,  which  were  not 
then  fordable,  empty  into  the  river.  Then  he  must  g-o 
forty  miles  northeast  in  order  to  g-et  to  Canton.  Sun- 
day was  a  fair  day,  and  there  were  good  cong-reg-ations, 
several  of  the  people  coming-  a  long-  distance,  but  best 
of  all  Jesus  was  there.  All  thanked  God  and  took 
courage. 

On  Monday,  as  the  waters  had  settled  somewhat,  the 
missionary  thoug-ht  that  possibly  he  could  return  to  his 
home  by  g'oing-  across  the  prairies.  On  reaching-  Sad- 
dle Creek,  he  found  that  it  contained  a  solid  bed  of 
unmelted  snow,  at  least  three  feet  deep,  which  had  been 


118  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

blown  into  the  bed  of  the  stream  by  the  fierce  winter 
winds.  Over  this  snow  was  flowing-  from  three  to  four 
feet  of  water,  making"  the  depth  of  both  snow  and  water 
from  six  to  seven  feet.  Finding*  what  he  supposed  was 
a  comparatively  shallow  place  he  rode  in,  but  the  depth 
was  much  g-reater  than  he  expected.  When  about  half 
way  across  his  horse  was  unable  to  g-o  further.  To 
turn  around  was  impossible.  In  horror  he  dismounted, 
and  settling  in  the  snow  above  his  knees,  and  in  the 
water  to  his  shoulders,  thoug-h  in  dang-er  of  being- 
trampled  under  by  the  strug-gling-  horse,  he  succeeded 
in  removing-  the  saddle,  bridle  and  blanket,  and  g-etting* 
them  safely  across  the  stream.  He  then  returned  to 
the  discourag-ed  horse,  and  held  his  head  out  of  the 
water  until  sufficiently  rested  to  make  a  powerful  effort, 
which  was  successful.  Twelve  miles  must  yet  be  trav- 
eled to  reach  the  nearest  house,  which  was  home.  Wet 
to  the  shoulders,  and  with  boots  filled  with  ice  cold 
water,  ag-ainst  a  bleak  March  wind,  the  missionary  rode 
over  the  trackless  prairie.  When  he  reached  home  he 
called  for  help,  and  was  assisted  from  his  horse  into 
the  house  in  an  almost  helpless  condition. 

At  another  time,  during-  the  sanie  year,  in  the  month 
of  October,  on  his  way  to  an  appointment,  after  wander- 
ing many  miles  in  the  darkness,  he  had  to  lie  all  night 
on  the  prairie.  He  did  not  have  even  an  overcoat  for  a 
covering,  but  he  had  his  buggy  cushion  for  a  pillow. 
The  next  morning  he  found  himself  fifteen  miles  from 
any  settlement.  About  ten  o'clock  he  reached  the 
place  of  his  appointment,  in  time  to  relieve  his  hunger 
before  the  services  began.  On  another  occasion,  on  a 
foggy  day,  he  described  two  entire  circles  of  about 
fourteen  miles  each,  as  nearly  as  he  could  judge  from 
the  time  occupied  in  driving. 

The  relation  of  these  events  may  seem  strangle  to 
those  who  have  had  no  such  experience,  but  at  the  time 
of  which  we  write,  in  this  then  new  country,  there  were 
no  roads  to  follow,  no  bridges  over  streams  and  rivers, 
and  only  a  few  houses,  and  they  were  mainly  sod  shan- 
ties, to  serve  as  waymarks.     Even  at  midday  one  was 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  119 

liable  to  lose  his  way  if  the  sun  was  concealed  by 
clouds.  How  different  now!  Surely  we  may  exclaim: 
"What  hath  God  wroug-ht  as  the  result  of  the  prayers 
and  tears  and  labors  of  his  people  here!" 

Let  us  return  and  trace  our  Baptist  cause  in  its 
infancy  a  little  further.  In  the  fall  of  1872  the  labors 
of  the  writer,  who  was  missionary  at  Swan  Lake  and 
Pinlay,  were  greatly  blessed,  and  the  g-eneral  mission- 
ary was  invited  to  assist  in  a  series  of  meeting's.  As 
a  result  a  church  was  org-anized  by  Brother  Freeman 
and  the  writer  on  the  24th  day  of  December.  On  the 
following-  day  (Christmas)  the  Pinlay  church  was  organ- 
ized by  the  same  persons  in  the  home  of  J.  J.  Mcln- 
tire.  Soon  after  several  were  added  to  the  church  by 
baptism.  A  few  years  later  the  Swan  Lake  church 
was  removed  to  Hurley,  and  is  now^  known  as  the  First 
Baptist  church  of  Hurley.  The  Finlay  church  was 
removed  to  Parker,  and  is  now  known  as  the  First  Bap- 
tist church  of  Parker.  This  has  become  one  of  the 
strongest  and  best  churches  in  the  state. 

In  the  autumn  of  1872  Rev.  T.  H.  Judson  settled  at 
Elk  Point,  and  rendered  valuable  assistance  to  the  gen- 
eral missionary  in  his  w^ork  in  Union  and  Clay  coun- 
ties. He  afterwards  removed  to  Turner  county,  and 
preached  at  Swan  Lake,  Pinlay,  and  other  places.  He 
traveled  extensively  as  missionary  along  the  Vermillion 
river,  as  far  north  as  Mbntrose  and  other  points,  and 
did  excellent  work  in  the  Master's  vineyard  until  1884, 
when  he  was  called  to  his  reward.  In  January,  1874, 
Rev.  J.  P.  Coffman  came  to  Dakota  to  identify  himself 
with  our  cause.  He  also  settled  first  at  Elk  Point.  He 
did  faithful  service  during  that  most  distressing 
period,  the  "grasshopper  raid."  He,  too,  after  a  few 
years,  settled  in  Turner  county,  preaching  here  and 
there,  wherever  he  found  an  open  door.  From  the 
time  he  joined  us,  for  many  years  he  was  in  the  front 
rank  of  our  standard  bearers,  battling  for  the  cause  of 
God  and  truth.  The  hearts  of  the  few  leaders  who 
were  here  were  made  glad  when  this  zealous  brother 
came  to  help  us. 


120         THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

In  the  fall  of  1873  Rev.  V.  B.  Conklin,  another  tried 
and  reliable  spiritual  helper,  came  to  aid  us.  He  set- 
tled in  Lincoln  county,  with  headquarters  first  at  Can- 
ton, and  afterwards  at  Lincoln  Center.  The  writer 
having  been  chosen  as  superintendent  of  public 
instruction  for  the  Territory  of  Dakota,  Brother  Conk- 
lin was  for  a  time  left  alone  in  carrying-  forward  the 
work  in  that  county.  He,  like  all  the  others  who  have 
been  mentioned,  came  to  join  the  pioneer  band  under 
the  supervision  of  our  general  missionary.  With  them 
he  sacrificed  and  toiled,  and  with  some  of  them  he  still 
lives,  to  rejoice  over  the  success  which  has  been 
achieved  by  those  who  have  worked  all  along-  the  line 
from  that  time  down  to  the  present.  In  1874  Rev.  A. 
W.  Hilton  entered  the  Dakota  field.  He  at  once  beg-an 
work  with  a  zeal  that  proved  his  devotion  to  the  cause, 
and  endeared  him  to  those  in  whose  labors  he  came  to 
share.  He  did  much  missionary  work  in  Turner  and 
Minnehaha  counties,  and  in  southern  Minnesota.  After 
about  eig-ht  years  of  excellent  service  he  was  released 
from  earthly  toil. 

During  the  years  1876  and  1877  comparatively  few 
new  missionaries  came,  and  but  little  was  accomplished. 
Immig-ration  had  been  checked  by  g-rasshoppers.  In 
1879  and  1880  many  homeseekers  came  to  the  territory, 
and  with  them  were  several  Baptist  ministers.  New 
churches  were  org-anized.  From  that  time  to  the  pres- 
ent our  cause  has  been  prospering-.  Today  we  have 
great  reason  for  lifting  our  hearts  to  God  in  thanksgiv- 
ing for  what  He  has  enabled  us  to  accomplish. 

On  the  5th  of  June,  1872,  the  first  association  of  Bap- 
tists in  the  territory  was  held  at  Vermillion,  in  the 
only  Baptist  house  of  worship  in  Dakota.  It  was  com- 
posed of  delegates  from  nine  churches.  The  earnest- 
ness and  faith  there  manifested  gave  promise  of  the 
future.  The  hopes  and  expectations  of  that  day,  some 
of  the  brethren  have  lived  to  see  realized.  The  prayers 
that  were  offered  for  the  spread  of  the  truth  have  in 
large  measure  been  answered.  The  weak,  by  the  help 
of  God  and  faithful  workmen,  have  been  made  strong. 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OP  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  121 

"The  little  one  has  become  a  thousand."  Behold  the 
contrast !  Then  there  were  nine  churches  with  about 
130  members.  Now  (1896)  there  are  103  churches  in 
South  Dakota  alone,  with  a  membership  of  nearly  6,000. 
Our  work,  however,  is  not  completed.  May  God  help 
us  to  labor  on  until  still  larger  results  are  accom- 
plished. 


CHAPTER   XII. 


RET.   \TILLIAM    T.    HIL.I.. 

Soon  after  the  beginning-  of  Baptist  missionary  work 
in  Dakota,  along*  the  valley  of  the  Missouri,  other 
workers  came  to  the  field,  and  began  their  labors 
among-  the  new  settlements  further  north,  along-  the 
Sioux,  Vermillion  and  James  rivers.  Rev.  William  T. 
Hill  was  at  first,  and  for  a  long-  time,  the  only  Baptist 
missionary  in  Minnehaha  county.  He  became  the  first 
pastor  of  the  church  in  Dell  Rapids,  and  served  as  such 
for  five  years.  In  a  ripe  old  ag-e  he  is  still  living-  on 
the  home  that  he  established  in  1873.  He  has  fur- 
nished the  following-  sketch  of  his  labors  and  experi- 
ences: 

The  First  Baptist  church  of  Dell  Rapids  was  org-an- 
ized  July  21,  1872,  by  Professor  Alvah  Bush,  of  Cedar 
Valley  Seminary,  Osage,  Iowa.  There  were  seventeen 
constituent  members.  A  majority  of  these  had  been 
members  of  the  Baptist  church  in  Osag-e.  The  new 
church  was  recog-nized  as  a  reg-ular  Baptist  church 
September  1,  1872,  by  Rev.  G.  W.  Freeman,  then  g-en- 
eral  missionary.  The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  William  T. 
Hill,  who  came  from  Waterloo,  Wis.  He  arrived  at 
Dell  Rapids  June  7,  1873,  in  a  lumber  wag-on,  after  a 
journey  of  nearly  500  miles.  The  season  was  a  very 
wet  one,  and  he  was  more  than  five  weeks  on  the  way. 
No  sooner  had  he  arrived  than  he  had  to  g-o  back,  over 
rivers  and  sloug-hs,  to  Worthington,  Minn.,  the  nearest 
railroad  station,  sixty  miles  distant,  to  procure  provis- 


KEV.   WILLIAM    T.  HILL, 

1S72- 1899. 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  123 

ions  for  himself  and  wife,  feed  for  his  team,  and  lum- 
ber for  a  shelter.  Many  times  he  made  this  -journey 
while  his  wife  stayed  on  the  prairie,  her  only  compan- 
ion and  g-uardian  being-  a  faithful  New  Poundland  dog-. 

The  early  settlers  were  a  church  g'oing-  people. 
There  was  only  one  cong-reg-ation  and  one  Sunday 
school  in  the  town.  The  people  for  the  time  being-  for- 
g-ot  their  differences,  and  worshiped  and  worked  har- 
moniously tog-ether.  The  meetings  were  held  in  various 
private  houses.  In  a  small  room  would  be  g*athered 
from  forty  to  sixtv  people  of  all  ages.  In  order  to 
make  room  for  the  congregation,  the  beds  and  other 
furniture  would  be  put  out  of  doors,  boards  resting  on 
boxes  would  be  the  seats,  and  a  sewing  machine  served 
as  a  pulpit.  There  was  great  rejoicing  when  a  school 
house  was  built  in  1876.  The  pioneer  preacher  often 
had  three  appointments  on  the  same  day,  some  of  them 
twenty  miles  apart.  He  preached  in  three  counties, 
and  organized  Sunday  schools  wherever  practicable. 
Sometimes  the  meetings  were  held  in  sod  houses,  and 
when  the  house  was  crowded  the  preacher  had  to  stand 
in  or  outside  of  the  doorway.  During  the  grasshopper 
visitation,  while  scarcely  knowing  how  he  was  g'oing  to 
live  through  the  winter,  he  had  to  inspire  the  people 
with  hope  and  courage.  His  labor  was  largely  a  labor 
of  love. 

The  early  settlers  had  all  that  they  could  do  to  sup- 
port their  own  families.  Some  years  they  could  not 
pay  the  minister  anything.  He  had  hard  work  to  make 
a  respectable  appearance  among  them.  At  one  time  he 
froze  his  feet  attending  a  funeral,  standing'  in  the  snow, 
having  a  hole  in  his  boot  and  no  overshoes.  Sometimes 
he  was  given  a  donation  in  money,  provisions  or  labor, 
but  his  total  receipts  from  the  field  for  a  year  never 
amounted  to  one  hundred  dollars.  The  church  treas- 
urer's report  for  one  year  in  the  seventies  was  brief 
and  suggestive.  "No  money  received,  and  none  paid 
out."  No  auditing  committee  was  appointed.  The 
minister  was  called  upon  to  preach  a  funeral  sermon," 
twenty  miles  away,  near  Lake   Madison.     He  started 


124         THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  Of^  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

before  daylig-ht  and  did  not  reach  home  until  after  dark, 
and  had  nothing-  to  eat  after  leaving-  home  until  his 
return.  On  another  occasion  the  minister  and  his  wife 
were  invited  to  a  wedding-.  After  the  ceremony  the 
happy  brideg-room  took  the  minister  aside  and  told  him 
confidentially  that  he  would  have  to  wait  for  his  fee 
until  after  harvest. 

In  July,  1873,  the  Dell  Rapids  pastor  had  an  appoint- 
ment to  preach  at  Sioux  Falls.  He  had  a  larg-e  and 
attentive  audience  in  Allen's  hall.  By  request  he  left 
an  appointment  to  preach  in  two  weeks  from  that  date, 
in  the  same  hall.  When  the  time  came  he  was  there, 
but  found  no  cong'reg-ation.  The  hall  was  not  opened 
and  lig-hted  for  the  meeting*.  The  g-ood  brother  who 
had  made  the  necessary  preparations  for  the  previous 
meeting-,  had  gone  to  a  distant  city  to  buy  lumber,  and 
the  brother  to  whom  he  had  left  the  work  of  advertising- 
the  meeting  and  lig-hting-  up  the  hall,  had  done  nothing* 
because  '*he  had  a  stitch  in  his  back."  When  the  min- 
ister reached  home  on  Monday  nig-ht,  after  his  fruitless 
drive  of  forty  miles  in  a  lumber  wagon,  he  too  had  a 
stitch  in  his  back.  Such  was  the  outcome  of  what 
might  have  been  an  earlier  start  of  the  Baptist  cause  in 
Sioux  Falls. 

Influential  Baptists,  living  at  Madison,  attended  the 
association  at  Dell  Rapids.  In  compliance  with  their 
urgent  request,  he  preached  the  following  Sabbath  at 
Madison,  and  a  month  later,  October  26,  1878,  he  met 
with  the  Baptist  brethren  and  sisters  there,  and  organ- 
ized them  into  a  regular  Baptist  church.  All  present 
presented  their  letters,  the  usual  articles  of  faith  were 
adopted,  and  officers  were  chosen.  On  the  following- 
day  a  sermon  was  preached,  the  hand  of  fellowship  was 
given,  and  the  ordinance  of  the  Lord's  supper  was  ob- 
served. Everything-  was  done  "decently  and  in  order," 
but  to  please  one  brother  who  was  not  present  at  the 
organization  of  the  church,  though  cordially  invited,  all 
was  gone  over  again  a  year  or  so  later.  On  a  bitter 
cold  and  windy  day,  the  minister  had  an  appointment 
twelve  miles  west,  to  perform  a   marriage  ceremony. 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  125 

He  had  no  covered  carriag-e,  no  top  bug-g-y,  but  now- 
owned  a  lig-ht  spring-  wag-on,  whick  he  proceeded  to  con- 
vert into  a  covered  vehicle,  by  using-  a  larg-e  dry  g-oods 
box,  with  the  open  end  towards  the  horses.  Inside  of 
this  box  he  could  sit  and  be  well  protected  on  all  sides 
except  in  front.  This  was  used  many  times  in  g'oing-  to 
his  appointments.  Some  of  the  unsanctiiied  sug-g-ested 
that  he  was  g-etting-  aristocratic,  and  putting-  on  too 
much  style.  In  the  g-reat  October  storm  of  1880,  the 
preacher  and  his  wife  had  to  g-et  into  bed  to  keep  from 
freezing-.  During-  the  storm  the  stovepipe  was  crushed 
in  and  bent  over,  and  the  roof  was  a  mass  of  ice,  thus 
rendering-  it  impossible  to  lig-ht  a  fire  or  make  repairs. 

In  1880,  the  Baptists  at  Dell  Rapids  built  a  neat  and 
cozy  chapel.  The  first  service  was  held  in  it  July  18, 
1880.  The  pastor  preached,  and  believing-  the  g-ospel 
of  Christ  to  be  the  only  hope  of  the  world,  and  wishing- 
to  g-ive  a  keynote  for  future  meetings  in  that  house,  he 
took  for  his  text,  "This  is  a  faithful  saying- and  worthy 
of  all  acceptation,  that  Christ  Jesus  came  into  the  world 
to  save  sinners."  A  Baptist  Sunday  school  was  org-an- 
ized  August  1,  1880,  with  sixty  scholars  enrolled. 
Peter  Morse  was  the  first  superintendent.  Preceding 
the  organization  a  sermon  appropriate  to  the  occasion 
was  preached  from  the  text:  "We  will  rejoice  in  thy 
salvation,  and  in  the  name  of  our  God  we  will  set  up 
our  banners."  Prom  this  time  the  Baptists  sustained 
their  own  weekly  meetings  and  Bible  school.  Their 
old  pastor  continued  to  preach  for  them  until  the  close 
of  1880,  though  Rev.  Walter  Ross  served  as  supply 
early  in  1879,  and  Rev.  J.  P.  Merriam  for  one  year  from 
May,  1879,  supplied  the  church  every  alternate  Sunday, 
in  connection  with  the  church  at  Luverne,  Minn. 

The  pioneer  pastor  declined  to  preach  any  longer  in 
Dell  Rapids,  being  convinced  that  the  work  of  the  pio- 
neer was  ended,  and  that  a  settled  pastor  was  now 
needed,  who  could  devote  all  his  time  and  energy  to  the 
work,  and  rightfully  demand  an  adequate  support  from 
the  church.  He  continued,  however,  in  the  service, 
and  filled  regular  appointments  at  Trent,  Roscoe  (now 


126  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.     • 

Eg-an),  Plandreau,  Lookout,  and  other  points.  Early 
in  1881  Rev.  J.  Edminster  was  called  as  pastor,  but 
being-  necessarily  absent  from  his  family,  who  were  liv- 
ing- near  Parker,  after  six  months  of  faithful  service  he 
resig-ned.  In  February,  1882,  Rev.  S.  G.  Adams  was 
called  to  the  pastorate,  in  which  he  served  with  g-reat 
success  for  five  years.  It  was  larg-ely  throug-h  his 
earnest  efforts  that  the  present  larg-e  and  comfortable 
house  of  worship  was  built.  The  pastors  succeeding- 
Mr.  Adams  have  been  I.  S.  Kneeland,  J.  P.  Coffman, 
H.  E.  Norton,  D.  L.  Parker,  and  E.  F.  Rice. 


CHAPTER   XIII. 


REV.   V.    B.    CONKL.IN. 

The  coming-  of  Rev.  V.  B.  Conklin  to  Dakota  followed 
very  soon  after  the  arrival  of  William  T.  Hill.  Both 
entered  on  their  new  fields  in  1873.  While  actively 
identified  with  all  the  pioneer  missionary  movements 
of  those  early  days,  the  particular  field  of  Mr.  Conk- 
lin's  labors  was  Lincoln  county.  After  many  years  of 
self-sacrificing  service,  he  has  been  liVing-,  since  1891, 
at  Lake  City,  Minn.  In  the  following-  sketch  he  has 
g-iven  an  outline  of  services  rendered,  and  some  of  the 
hardships  endured: 

It  is  with  some  embarrassment  that  I  undertake  to 
prepare  a  statement  concerning-  my  early  labors  in 
Dakota,  and  my  relation  to  other  laborers  on  the  field, 
since  my  diary  concerning-  the  labors  and  events  of 
those  years  is  lost.  At  the  earnest  request  of  Rev.  G. 
W.  Freeman,  then  general  missionary  for  Dakota  Ter- 
ritory, I  visited  the  field  in  the  summer  of  1873.  He 
went  with  me  to  Canton,  and  there  was  presented  to 
my  vision  the  opening  opportunity  for  service. 

Canton  was  the  center  of  operations.  Baptist  and 
Congregational  churches  were  already  established 
there.  Rev.  J.  J.  Mclntire  was  then  pastor  of  the  Bap- 
tist church,  serving  one-half  of  the  time  there  and  the 
balance  elsewhere.  From  the  large  congregations  and 
general  interest  manifested,  it  was  evident  that  his 
relation  to  that  field  was  one  that  betokened  success. 
As  his  home  was  thirty  miles  distant,  and  constant 
travel   across   the    prairies    subjected    him    to    much 


128  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

exposure  in  cold  and  stormy  weather,  he  gladly  with- 
drew from  the  field  at  Canton,  in  order  to  be  able  to 
serve  in  other  opening-fields  nearer  home. 

Arrang-ements  being-  made  for  my  settlement  at  Can- 
ton, I  came  to  that  place  with  my  family  in  October, 
1873.  For  thirteen  years,  at  Canton  and  elsewhere  in 
Lincoln  county,  I  served  by  appointment  of  the  Ameri- 
can Baptist  Home  Mission  Society,  and  under  the 
superintendence  of  Rev.  G.  W.  Freeman  and  Rev. 
Edward  E^llis,  g-eneral  missionaries,  and  Rev.  J.  N. 
Webb,  D.  D.,  district  secretary.  I  desire  to  bear  tes- 
timony to  their  brotherly  kindness  and  patient  forbear- 
ance. On  my  introduction  to  this  field  I  found  that  a 
diversity  of  work  was  needed.  The  appropriations  for 
missionary  aid  were  necessarily  very  small.  The  early 
settlers  had  come  empty  handed,  or  with  very  limited 
means,  to  avail  themselves  of  the  opportunity  to  secure 
g-overnment  land  for  their  future  homes.  The  question 
of  ministerial  support  was  therefore  a  serious  one. 
With  the  knowledg-e  and  approval  of  the  Board  of  the 
Home  Mission  Society,  the  missionaries  were  g-ranted 
unusual  liberty  in  helping'  to  supply  our  needs  by 
eng-aging-,  part  of  the  time,  in  other  avocations  beside 
our  special  work.  I  taug-ht  the  public  school  in  Canton 
during-  the  first  winter  after  our  arrival  there.  This 
arrang-ement  proved  helpful  rather  than  detrimental. 
It  led  to  my  election  as  county  superintendent  of 
schools  for  Lincoln  county.  This,  without  absorbing- 
much  of  my  time,  aided  in  the  extension  of  my 
acquaintance  and  influence  among-  the  people,  and 
opened  many  opportunities  for  missionary  work. 

Like  most  of  my  brethren  during-  that  period,  sus- 
taining- similar  relation  to  the  Board  of  the  Home  Mis- 
sion Society,  I  availed  myself  of  the  opportunity  to 
secure  a  homestead.  This  was  located  at  Lincoln  Cen- 
ter. There  we  planted  a  mission  station.  The  first 
service  held  there  was  in  a  private  house  of  three  rooms. 
Eig-hty  people  were  there,  many  of  them  coming-  long- 
distances.  The  interest  manifested  was  inspiring-,  and 
as  we  lifted  up  our  eyes  and  looked  on  the  fields,  we 


i| 


REV.  V.  B.  CONKLIN, 

1872- 1891. 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  129 

saw  that  they  were  already  ripe  for  the  harvest.  It  was 
not  long*  before  we  were  gathering  in  the  sheaves.  This 
was  in  the  summer  of  1874.  Prom  that  time  onward 
regular  appointments  were  maintained  there,  and  later 
a  church  was  org-anized.  The  following-  winter,  on  a 
cold  and  very  stormy  day,  Dr.  Webb  was  there.  He  ex- 
pressed some  doubts  as  to  a  meeting-.  But  the  people 
came  throug-h  the  storm,  and  we  had  a  successful 
meeting-.  Being-  filled  with  the  Spirit,  he  preached  with 
much  power.  On  making  his  customary  appeal  for  a 
contribution  for  home  missions,  the  subscriptions  from 
those  poor  home-steaders  amounted  to  sixty  dollars,  and 
all  of  them  were  promptly  paid. 

At  this  time  immigration  had  become  so  rapid  that 
every  quarter-section  of  land  in  Lincoln  and  adjoining 
townships  had  been  taken.  Business  activity  was 
everywhere  manifest.  While  all  were  building  homes 
and  improving  their  land,  school  houses  became  a  recog- 
nized necessity.  One  was  built  at  Lincoln  Center, 
and  others  in  different  directions.  All  of  these  were 
used  as  preaching  stations  during  my  ministry  in  Lin- 
coln county.  In  the  early  '80's  I  labored  for  a  time  at 
Lennox,  where  I  found  some  German  Baptists.  As  it 
was  necessary  for  each  one  taking  a  homestead  to  live 
for  a  time  on  his  claim,  the  number  of  members  in  the 
church  at  Canton  was  greatly  reduced,  and  after  a  time 
it  became  practically  extinct.  As  many  of  them  lived 
in  homesteads  west  of  Canton,  is  gradually  came  to  be 
known  as  the  Lincoln  Church,  where  services  were 
regularly  maintained.  Early  in  the  '80's,  services  were 
resumed  at  Canton.  I  removed  there  with  my  family, 
and  the  church  was  reorganized  March,  15,  1885.  Ser- 
vices were  held  in  the  court  house  and  school  house 
until  1887.  During  that  year  when  Rev.  E.  M.Heyburn, 
my  successor,  was  pastor,  the  present  house  of  worship 
was  built.  It  was  dedicated  December  7,  1887.  I  re- 
mained there  about  three  years,  preaching  most  of  the 
time  at  out-stations,  so  that  my  full  term  of  services 
rendered  in  Lincoln  county  covered  about  seventeen 
years,  thirteen  years  of  this  period  as  a  missionary 
pastor. 


130  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

These  years  of  service  in  Dakota  included  many  try- 
ing experiences,  such  as  were  common  to  all  those  who 
labored  on  other  fields.  Among-  the  things  most  de- 
structive were  grasshoppers  and  prairie  fires.  Having 
no  experience  the  early  settlers  did  not  know  how  to 
guard  against  them,  as  they  learned  to  do  in  later  years. 
Frequently  the  bright  prospect  of  an  abundant  crop 
would  be  swept  away  by  fire  or  destroyed  by  a  grass- 
hopper raid.  During  the  years  that  the  latter  plague 
was  so  common  and  so  destructive,  the  services  of  mis- 
sionary pastors  were  required  to  visit  and  encourage 
the  destitute,  and  distribute  supplies  sent  from  the 
east.  It  was  my  lot  to  serve  as  chairman  of  a  distrib- 
uting committee,  and  much  was  done  to  relieve  the 
suffering.  We  did  what  we  could  to  aid  in  material 
things,  at  the  same  time  seeking  to  leave  with  the  peo- 
ple a  portion  of  the  "hidden  manna."  During  the 
memorable  winter  of  1880,  diptheria  became  epidemic, 
public  funerals  were  prohibited,  and  the  missionary 
had  to  minister  privately  to  the  sorrow  of  the  bereaved, 
and  often  accompany  them  to  the  grave  in  the  solitude 
of  the  midnight  hour. 

I  desire  to  bear  tribute  to  the  faithful  brethren  and 
sisters,  some  of  whom  have  gone  before  and  others  yet 
remain,  who  with  us  bore  the  heat  and  burden  of 
pioneer  service,  in  endeavoring  to  plant  the  standard  of 
the  cross  on  the  prairies  of  Dakota.  I  remember  with 
gratitude  the  workers  on  other  fields.  While  I  was  for 
about  fourteen  years  the  only  Baptist  minister  living 
in  L/incoln  county,  yet  other  laborers  to  some  extent 
shared  the  burden  with  me.  One  of  these  was  Rev. 
J.  P.  Coffman,  who  frequently  came  to  my  assistance 
in  revival  meetings,  and  for  a  time  supplied  two  sta- 
tions in  the  county.  During  one  winter  Rev.  E.  H. 
Hurlbutt  taught  school  at  another  station,  and  preached 
regularly  to  the  people.  Rev.  J.  J.  Mclntire  was  also 
a  faithful  helper  in  times  of  need.  All  of  us  endeav- 
ored to  scatter  the  seed  of  the  gospel,  and  we  rejoice 
in  the  late  harvests  that  have  brought  joy  and  gladness 
to  many  hearts. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


RET.    J.    P.    COFFMAIV. 

Of  the  early  pioneer  missionaries,  the  two  who 
remained  longest  on  the  field,  and  are  therefore  best 
known  to  the  present  generation  of  Baptists,  are  Rev. 
J.  J.  Mclntire,  who  came  in  October,  1871,  and  Rev.  J. 
P.  Coffman,  who  settled  at  Elk  Point  in  January,  1874. 
In  the  following"  historical  sketch,  furnished  by  Mr. 
Coffman,  the  principal  events  in  many  years  of  active 
service  are  recorded,  up  to  his  settlement  in  Akron  in 
February,  1886.  After  a  successful  pastorate  of  three 
years  there,  he  became  pastor  at  Dell  Rapids,  January 
i,  1889.  While  at  Dell  Rapids,  a  large  and  trouble- 
some debt  on  the  church  property  was  paid.  In  1891 
he  removed  to  Sioux  Palls,  and  served  as  supply  for 
neighboring  churches,  while  his  children  were  in 
attendance  at  Sioux  Palls  University.  In  1894  he 
became  pastor  at  Cherokee,  la.  He  is  now  settled  at 
Perry,  la. 

In  October,  1873,  I  received  a  call  to  become*  pastor 
of  the  Baptist  church  at  Elk  Point.  The  call  was 
accepted,  and  I  reached  Elk  Point  with  my  .family  Jan- 
uary 7,  1874.  The  house  of  worship  there  had  just 
been  completed,  but  it  was  without  furniture.  There 
was  no  pulpit,  organ  or  carpet.  The  temporary  seats 
were  made  of  Cottonwood  boards,  some  of  them 
arranged  with  backs,  so  that  the  building  seemed  quite 
comfortable.  There  were  about  thirty  members,  some 
of  them  non-residents. 


132  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

Here  we  beg-an  our  work  in  Dakota  Territory.  The 
railroad  from  Sioux  City  to  Yankton  was  the  only  one 
in  all  of  what  is  now  South  Dakota,  and  the  fare  was 
six  cents  a  mile.  The  Northern  Pacific  railroad  was 
in  operation  from  Parg-o  to  Bismarck.  On  this  g-reat 
field,  at  that  time,  churches  were  few  and  far  apart, 
and  pastors  were  very  few  indeed.  Rev.  J.  J.  Mclntire 
was  at  Pinlay,  near  where  Parker  now  is;  Rev.  T.  H. 
Judson  was  at  Vermillion;  Rev.  E.  H.  Hurlbutt  was  at 
Gayville;  Rev.  Wm.  T.  Hill  was  at  Dell  Rapids;  Rev. 
V.  B.  Conklin  was  at  Canton;  Rev.  G.  W.  Freeman's 
home  was  at  Elk  Point;  Rev.  P.  A.  Rin^  was  pastor 
of  the  Swedish  church  at  Big-  Spring's.  There 
were  also  three  or  four  Scandinavian  ministers 
whom  I  did  not  know.  These  composed  the  Baptist 
ministry  of  Dakota  Territory  when  I  beg-an  my  work 
as  pastor  at  Elk  Point,  in  January,  1874.  Noble  men 
of  God;  how,  in  the  midst  of  trying-  circumstances,  did 
most  of  them  stand  true  to  the  cause ! 

Soon  after  coming  to  Elk  Point,  special  meeting-s 
were  held.  As  a  whole,  the  spiritual  life  of  the  church 
was  at  a  low  ebb,  but  there  were  some  as  g-ood  mem- 
bers as  are  to  be  found  anywhere.  Sickness  in  our 
family  hindered  the  meetings,  but  the  church  was 
helped.  On  March  30,  of  this  year,  I  was  called  to 
attend  a  funeral  in  the  Roman  Catholic  settlement  at 
Jefferson,  southeast  of  Elk  Point.  A  long-  delay,  after 
I  had  supposed  all  were  ready  to  start  to  the  burial 
g-round,  was  caused  by  the  company  taking-  "refresh- 
ments." These  consisted  of  a  full  supply  of  whiskey 
and  beer.  On  reaching-  home  I  found  Rev.  T.  H.  Jud- 
son and  Brother  Ufford  waiting-  for  me  to  g-o  with 
them  to  Vermillion  to  assist  in  special  meeting-s.  I 
preached  there  throug-h  the  week  in  the  church  build- 
ing- that  then  stood  down  at  the  mouth  of  the  ravine.  I 
well  remember  the  interest  felt  by  Brother  Martin  J. 
Lewis  and  the  pastor  for  the  conversion  of  Mr.  M.  D. 
Thompson.  That  evening-,  when  an  expression  was 
taken,  six  stood  up,  and  of  this  number  he  was  the 
leader. 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  133 

The  third  annual  meeting-  of  the  Southern  Dakota 
Association  was  held  at  Elk  Point,  beginning-  June  10, 
1874.  Very  heavy  rains  had  been  falling-,  and  these 
continued  up  to  the  opening-  of  the  meeting's.  The 
attendance  was  therefore  small.  It  was  not  a  very 
harmonious  g-athering.  This  lack  of  harmony  for  some 
years  hindered  the  work  in  the  territory.  It  was  at 
this  meeting-  that  Rev.  A.  W.  Hilton,  then  pastor  at 
Cherokee,  la.,  first  visited  Dakota.  Having  a  large 
family,  and  an  inadequate  support  in  the  pastorate,  he 
looked  to  Dakota,  where  opportunities  were  offered  for 
securing  a  home,  by  filing  a  homestead  on  government 
land. 

After  the  association  adjourned,  in  company  with 
Rev.  A.  W.  Hilton  and  Rev.  T.  H.  Judson,  we  started 
by  team  from  Vermillion  up  the  Vermillion  river  to 
Pinlay,  the  home  of  Rev.  J.  J.  Mclntire.  In  fact  his 
home  was  Pinlay.  His  house  served  the  purpose  of 
hotel,  meeting  house  and  post  office.  For  a  week  or 
more  we  looked  over  the  great  stretch  of  country  to  the 
north  and  west,  nearly  all  of  which  was  then  govern- 
ment land.  During  this  trip  we  visited  Sioux  Palls, 
then  a  small  village.  While  there  Mr.  Hilton  filed  on 
the  piece  of  land  that  was  his  home  during  all  of  his 
ministry  in  Dakota.  Mr.  Judson  filed  on  his  homestead 
which  is  now  a  part  of  the  townsite  of  Hurley.  I  also 
filed  on  a  claim,  and  this  was  the  Coffman  home  from 
1878  to  1886.  On  Sunday,  June  21,  the  church  at 
Pinlay  gathered  for  their  regular  service  at  their  usual 
place  of  meeting,  Mr.  Mclntire's  house,  and  there  were 
four  Baptist  preachers  present.  In  the  claims  selected 
for  homes  during  that  trip,  and  the  results  that  fol- 
lowed, the  future  life-work  of  some  of  God's  servants 
was  fixed.  We  were  also  able  to  get  some  idea  of  the 
great  missionary  field  that  was  then  opening  up,  and 
calling  for  laborers. 

There  could  not  be  a  better  prospect  for  a  bountiful 
harvest  than  was  seen  all  over  the  country.  This 
continued  until  nearly  harvest  time.  Many  important 
interests  depended  on  this  crop.     Churches  expected 


134         THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

to  be  able  to  build  meeting-  houses.  Many  of  the  new 
communities  expected  to  tax  themselves  to  build  school 
houses.  Many  families  hoped  to  be  able  to  move  out 
of  sod  houses  into  better  ones,  which  they  expected  to 
be  able  to  build  from  the  proceeds  of  the  crop.  But 
how  quickly  are  our  hopes  often  dashed  to  the  g-round! 
On  Friday  afternoon  July  17,  1874,  g-rasshoppers  beg-an 
to  descend  upon  us.  There  were  millions  of  them. 
The  harvest  prospect  was  g-one.  But,  however  thick 
they  were  on  Friday,  on  the  following-  Sunday  they 
came  all  day  long-,  literally  in  clouds,  as  plain  to  see  as 
ever  clouds  of  smoke  were  seen  rising-  from  burning- 
prairies.  Every  vestig-e  of  a  crop  was  destroyed.  One 
who  has  never  seen  a  " g-rasshopper  raid"  can  have  no 
just  conception  of  the  total  destruction  of  veg-etation 
that  results  from  such  a  visit.  At  the  semi-annual 
meeting-  of  the  association  held  at  Canton,  in  Sep- 
tember, a  committee  consisting-  of  J.  P.  Coffman,  T.  H. 
Judson  and  J.  J.  Mclntire,  was  appointed  to  make  an 
appeal,  through  the  denominational  papers  for  aid  for 
our  destitute  Baptist  families.  Liberal  responses 
were  made  to  this  appeal.  Out  of  this  movement  g-rew 
a  call  for  a  public  meeting-  which  resulted  in  the  org-an- 
ization  of  a  relief  association  for  the  assistance  of  all 
classes  of  needy  people  in  the  territory. 

Our  church  work  over  the  entire  field  was  g-reatly 
hindered  because  of  the  destitution  that  followed  the 
grasshopper  plague.  But  the  Home  Mission  Society 
gave  us  counsel  and  help.  Rev.  J.  N.  Webb,  D.  D.,  dis- 
trict secretary  for  Nebraska  and  Dakota,  visited  us, 
and  inspired  us  with  hope  and  courage.  Through  the 
help  received  from  the  society  I  was  enabled  to  remain 
on  my  field.  Late  in  1875  we  had  a  precious  revival  at 
Elk  Point.  This  greatly  strengthened  the  church,  the 
membership  being  about  doubled.  About  this  time  I 
became  associated  also  with  the  Portlandville  church 
(now  Akron)  in  pastoral  work.  This  arrangement  con- 
tinued as  long  as  I  remained  pastor  at  Elk  Point.  Plans 
were  almost  completed  to  build  a  chapel  for  the  Port- 
landville church  when,  in  July,  1876,  another  grasshop- 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  135 

per  scourg-e  came,  and  the  prospective  crop,  then  so 
fair,  were  swept  away  and  the  people  were  left  stranded 
ag-ain.  This  visitation  was  not  so  serious  as  the  one  in 
1874,  because  it  came  later,  and  sorne  of  the  small  grain 
had  been  secured.  The  financial  crisis  of  1873  was 
felt,  of  course,  in  this  new  country,  but  all  the  disad- 
vantages of  hard  times  were  greatly  intensified  by  the 
loss  of  crops  resulting  from  the  grasshopper  plague. 
Any  advance  in  work  along  missionary  lines  was  seri- 
ously hindered,  the  number  of  churches  did  not 
increase,  and  there  was  not  much  growth  in  population 
by  immigration. 

Early  in  1877  I  resigmed  at  Elk  Point,  quite  uncertain 
whether  I  should  remain  longer  in  the  territory.  One 
thing  helped  to  hold  me  here.  I  had  built  a  good  house 
at  Elk  Point,  and  it  was  very  difficult  at  that  time  to 
sell  property.  Having  supplied  for  a  few  months  the 
church  at  Cherokee,  la.,  I  was  urged,  in  August,  1877, 
to  go  to  Yankton.  Repeated  previous  failures  to  suc- 
cessfully establish  the  Baptist  cause  at  the  capitol  of 
the  territory  made  me  hesitate  to  attempt  the  work. 
The  importance  of  the  field,  its  needs,  and  the  urgent 
solicitation  of  Dr.  Webb,  decided  for  me  the  question 
of  duty.  Once  upon  the  field  I  found  the  situation 
even  worse  than  I  had  supposed.  The  only  place  of 
meeting  was  an  old,  out-of-the-way,  empty  store-room. 
The  little  church  was  rent  in  twain.  Influential  citi- 
zens, who  had  come  to  Yankton  as  Baptists,  went  into 
the  Congregational  church,  which  was  then  strong  and 
popular.  In  the  matter  of  support  the  Home  Mission 
Society  was  to  become  largely  responsible.  After  re- 
maining on  the  field  five  months  we  were  notified  that 
the  society  could  no  longer  support  the  work  at  Yank- 
ton. 

This  action  decided  my  course  for  several  coming 
vears.  Early  in  1878  I  decided  to  perfect  the  title  to 
the  land  on  which  I  had  filed  in  1874,  in  Turner  county, 
and  moved  my  family  to  the  homestead.  I,  however, 
continued  services  at  Yankton  for  half  of  the  time,  and 
as  the  Vermillion  church  was  without  a  pastor,  I  con- 


136  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

sented  to  supply  it.  These  trips  to  Yankton  and 
Vermillion  were  made  weekly  by  team.  In  August, 
1878,  I  was  ag-ain  urg-ed  to  take  up  the  work  at  Yank- 
ton, under  appointnient  as  missionary  of  the  Society. 
In  answer  to  the  request  of  Dr.  S.  S.  Cutting-,  then 
Corresponding-  Secretary  of  the  Society,  I  said:  "I  am 
now  on  my  homestead,  forty-five  miles  distant  from 
Yankton,  and  the  Yankton  church  oug-ht  to  have  a  man 
on  the  field  seven  days  in  the  week."  To  this  he  re- 
plied: "We  know  the  situation,  and  if  we  cannot  do 
what  we  would,  we  must  do  what  we  can."  I  ag-ain  be- 
came a  missionary  of  the  Society,  on  the  understanding- 
that  the  church  should  build  a  place  of  worship.  So  I 
once  more  beg-an  work  in  Yankton,  driving-  weekly 
from  my  home  in  Turner  county.  During-  the  winter 
of  1878-9,  which  my  family  spent  in  eastern  Iowa,  I 
stayed  at  Yankton.  The  territorial  leg-islature  were 
there  in  session,  and  I  was  elected  chaplain  of  the  lower 
house.  The  little  salary  received  for  this  service 
g-reatly  aided  me  in  tiding  over  the  hard  places.  The 
building  of  the  house  of  worship  was  carried  on,  as 
best  we  could  under  adverse  circumstances.  My  last 
preaching  service  was  held  in  it  as  I  closed  the  year  of 
my  appointment,  in  August,  1879.  On  the  following- 
Sunday  the  new  pastor,  Rev.  T.  J.  Brownson,  and  his 
wife,  took  up  the  lines  of  work.  I  have  never  been  sat- 
isfied with  what  was  accomplished  during'  my  stay  at 
Yankton.  The  Baptist  cause  began  there  under  as 
favorable  conditions  as  any  of  the  other  denominations, 
but  serious  difficulties  and  divisions  soon  made  it  a  very 
unpromising  field. 

In  1879  a  new  era  began  in  the  history  of  Dakota.  A 
new  inspiration  pervaded  all  departments  of  life.  •  Our 
Baptist  cause  shared  in  the  benefits  of  this  new  order 
of  things.  This  was  the  year  of  unusual  activity  in 
building  lines  of  railroad  in  the  territory.  Almost 
everywhere  could  be  seen  civil  engineers  and  surveyors 
marking  out  the  lines  of  proposed  railroads.  There 
was  great  rivalry  between  the  "Northwestern"  and 
the  "Milwaukee"  systems,  each  trying  to  pre-occupy 


REV.  J.  P.  COFFMAN, 

1874- 1S94. 


/ 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  137 

the  field.  The  hard  times  beg-inning-  with  the  panic  of 
1873,  and  the  effects  of  the  grasshopper  plag-ues  in  1874 
and  1876  had  been  keenly  felt,  but  in  1879  everything- 
was  chang-ed.  At  this  time  very  little  was  being*  done 
by  the  Home  Mission  Society  in  the  territory.  The 
new  order  of  thing's  and  new  financial  conditions  were 
being-  felt  on  every  hand.  Great  crowds  of  settlers 
were  coming-  to  Dakota,  and  many  new  settlements 
were  calling-  for  missionary  help. 

In  the  summer  of  this  year  the  few  Baptist  ministers 
who  were  then  in  the  territory,  felt  the  very  g-reat 
necessity  of  more  ag-g-ressive  work  on  this  growing- 
field  by  the  Home  Mission  Society,  and  a  conference 
was  held  at  Sioux  Palls,  at  which  there  were  present 
Revs.  A.  W.  Hilton,  H.  E.  Norton,  V.  B.  Conklin,  J. 
P.  Merriam,  and  myself.  After  a  full  discussion  of 
the  situation,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  prepare  an 
appeal  to  the  board  in  New  York,  laying-  before  them 
the  g-reat  field  and  its  rapidly  increasing  needs,  the 
hundreds  of  miles  of  new  railroads  being  built,  and 
the  scores  of  new  towns  rising  like  magic  on  the  prai- 
ries. I  wrote  the  appeal.  It  was  long  and  earnest. 
The  result  soon  followed.  Rev.  William  M.  Haigh, 
D.  D.,  of  Chicago,  western  secretary  of  the  society, 
was  requested  by  the  board  to  visit  Dakota.  He  was 
soon  on  the  field,  and  saw  the  situation  and  its  increas- 
ing needs.  It  was  not  long  until  we  had  a  general  mis- 
sionary. Rev.  Edward  Ellis,  and  soon  began  the 
aggressive  work  of  the  Home  Mission  Socie'ty  in  behalf 
of  the  Baptist  cause  in  Dakota,  which  has  been  carried 
on  ever  since. 

During  1880  and  the  latter  part  of  1879  circum- 
stances kept  me  closely  at  home.  I  did  no  pastoral 
work,  but  preaching  services  here  and  there  were  ren- 
dered "without  money  and  without  price."  Late  in 
1880  the  country  experienced  one  of  the  severest 
storms  ever  known  in  its  history.  On  the  15th  of  Octo- 
ber, about  noon,  a  fearful  snowstorm  came,  which 
lasted  two  days  and  nights.  This  was  the  beginning 
of  the  hard  winter  of   1880-1,   when  we  were   shut  in 


138  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

most  of  the  time.  The  interruption  of  trains  was  fre- 
quent until  the  last  of  January,  and  'then  it  was  com- 
plete. The  mail  train  on  the  Milwaukee  road  went 
east  past  my  house  on  the  night  of  January  29.  The 
next  time  that  I  heard  the  whistle  of  an  eng-ine  was  on 
April  14.  To  add  to  the  general  discomfiture,  when 
the  snow  blockade  was  lifted,  the  melted  snows  caused 
such  floods  of  water  that  nearly  all  of  the  bridges  in 
the  country  were  swept  away.  Under  these  circum- 
stances but  little  missionary  work  was  possible  for 
several  months.  In  the  early  summer,  however,  active 
work  for  the  Lord  was  resumed. 

In  July  of  this  year,  1881,  I  was  requested  by  Rev. 
Edward  Ellis  to  go  to  Mitchell,  and  look  after  Baptist 
interests  there.  I  did  so,  and  preached  the  first  Baptist 
sermon  in  Mitchell,  July  17.  The  services  were  held 
in  a  little  Presbyterian  chapel,  the  only  church  build- 
ing there,  except  one  belonging  to  the  Catholics.  I 
found  from  fifteen  to  twenty  Baptists  and  the  number 
was  being  increased  by  the  continual  coming  of  new 
settlers.  At  one  of  these  meetings  I  first  met  Deacon 
B.  Morse,  whose  presence  and  helpfulness  were  ever 
after  a  benediction  to  me  while  working  on  that  field. 
The  Episcopal  house  of  worship  was  soon  finished,  and 
we  were  able  to  occupy  the  school  house  one-half  of  the 
time.  After  the  following  May  we  were  able  to  use  the 
school  house  every  Sunday,  and  so  all,  instead  of  one- 
half  of  my  time  was  given  to  that  field.  The  attendance 
and  interest  increased  at  these  services.  The  Baptist 
church  at  Mitchell  was  organized  November  17,  1881, 
with  fourteen  members.  Others  soon  after  identified 
themselves  with  the  organization.  After  considerable 
difficulty  desirable  lots  were  secured,  on  which  w^as 
afterwards  built  the  present  house  of  worship.  My 
services  at  Mitchell  continued  until  September,  1882, 
when  Rev.  S.  J.  Winegar  was  called  as  pastor. 

Immediately  after  this  I  went  with  Rev.  Edward 
Ellis,  to  Alexandria,  where  urgent  appeals  had  been 
made  for  the  Baptists  to  build  a  house  of  worship. 
Such  promises  were  made  as  encouraged  the  effort  to 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OP  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  139 

build.  The  building*  was  erected,  supervised  wholly 
by  General  Missionary  Ellis.  I  continued  to  preach  at 
Alexandria  until  May,  1883.  In  May  or  June  the  house 
was  completed  and  dedicated.  A  brother  from  the  east 
had  just  come  to  serve  as  pastor  and  push  on  the  work. 
He  was  present  at  the  dedication,  and  on  the  Sunday 
following-.  Then,  being-  overcome  by  homesickness, 
because  he  found  there  "no  mountains,  or  hills,  or 
trees,"  he  left  suddenly  for  his  eastern  home.  An- 
other man  was  secured.  Rev.  Thomas  Dyall.  A  tide 
had  however,  set  in  ag-ainst  our  cause  at  Alexandria, 
and  under  these  adverse  conditions  others  came  and 
occupied  the  field.  In  the  winter  of  1883-4,  I  was  asked 
to  take  up  the  declining-  cause  there.  I  spent  some 
time  on  the  field,  and  then  gave  it  up  as  a  hopeless 
undertaking-. 

In  the  fall  of  1884,  the  little  church  at  Hurley  asked 
me  to  take  hold  of  the  work  there,  and  become  pastor, 
serving-  them  as  best  I  could,  while  living-  on  my  home- 
stead. This  I  consented  to  do,  and  I  was  associated 
with  that  field  until  the  close  of  1885.  Rev.  J.  J.  Mc- 
Intire  were  then  living-  at  Hurley,  where  he  and  his 
wife  were  teachers  in  the  public  schools.  The  home 
of  Rev.  E.  Sill,  was  also  there.  These  brethren  were 
helpers  during-  all  of  the  time  of  my  service  at  Hurley. 
During  this  period  we  had  a  precious  revival,  and  many 
were  added  to  the  church. 

Near  the  close  of  this  service,  the  church  at  Akron, 
(formerly  Portlandville)  opened  correspondence  with 
reference  to  my  becoming-  pastor  of  that  church.  I 
had  been  considering-  the  question  of  leaving-  my  farm, 
and  ag-ain  giving-  my  time  wholly  to  pastoral  work,  and 
this  call,  tog-ether  with  the  advice  of  some  g'ood  breth- 
ren helped  me  in  reaching-  a  decision.  I  moved  to 
Akron  in  February,  1886.  In  the  fall  of  that  year 
began  the  g-reat  revival,  which,  with  our  church,  con- 
tinued a  full  year. 


CHAPTER  XV. 


RET.  G.  S.  CL.ETENGER. 

The  historical  and  biographical  sketches  published  in 
several  preceding  chapters  have  reference  mainly  to 
the  work  as  witnessed  and  shared  in  by  those  who 
served  as  missionary  pastors  during-  the  first  and  sec- 
ond decades.  The  following-  sketch  is  furnished  by 
Rev.  G.  S.  Cleveng-er,  who  came  early  in  the  third  de- 
cade. Several  churches  had  been  org-anized,  and  the 
work  was  becoming  well  established  in  a  number  of  the 
southern  counties  of  Dakota,  but  in  the  central  and 
northern  portion  of  the  state,  everything  was  compar- 
atively new.  A  few  churches,  one  or  two  years  old, 
were  in  existence,  but  many  more  were  needed,  and  the 
greater  part  of  the  state  was  distinctively  missionary 
ground. 

Mr.  Clevenger's  destination  on  coming  to  Dakota  was 
Sioux  Falls,  but  on  his  way  he  visited  Brookings,  and 
was  urged  so  strongly  to  become  the  shepherd  of  the 
little  flock  there  that  he  consented  to  remain.  During 
an  active  and  successful  pastorate  of  six  years,  the 
the  Baptist  cause  at  Brookings  became  well  established, 
and,  so  far  as  possible,  missionary  services  were  ren- 
dered at  other  localities,  especially  at  Efkton  and 
Bushnell.  On  some  of  these  mission  fields  there  are 
now  prosperous  churches.  At  the  close  of  his  labors  at 
Brookings  he  settled  at  Vermillion,  and  afterwards,  at 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  141 

Rapid  City,  and  he  is  now  pastor  at  Pierre.  During- 
the  Spanish-American  war  he  was  chaplain  of  the  Third 
United  States  Cavalry  Regiment. 

At  the  time  of  the  annual  meeting-  of  the  South  Dakota 
Baptist  Convention,  at  Madison,  in  1894,  a  historical 
session  was  held  on  the  shore  of  Lake  Madison,  where 
the  convention  was  org-anized,  in  Baker's  barn,  in  1881. 
A  number  of  pioneer  workers  were  present,  and  the 
session  was  devoted  to  historical  papers  and  addresses. 
Among-  the  interesting-  historical  reminiscences  were 
those  furnished  by  Mr.  Cleveng-er,  in  the  following- 
paper. 


It  would  g-ive  me  g-reat  pleasure  to  meet  the  pioneer 
ministers  of  Dakota,  and  with  them  recall  the  past,  and 
I  have  been  cherishing-  the  hope  that  I  mig-ht  be  able  to 
do  so,  but  circumstances  over  which  I  have  no  control 
prevent  me.  At  the  last  moment  I  sketch  some  recol- 
lections to  show  that  I  have  not  forg-otten  your  kind 
invitation.  When  I  ask  myself  the  question,  who  will 
probably  be  present,  of  those  who  were  actively  en- 
g-aged  in  ministerial  work  in  Dakota  in  the  early  '80's, 
it  dawns  upon  me  that  the  number  will  be  very  small. 
Some  have  gone  to  their  eternal  home,  and  others  have 
left  the  state. 

I  came  to  Dakota  in  June,  1882.  I  never  had  been 
west  of  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  hence  had  never  seen  a 
prairie.  I  came  from  western  New  York,  a  section  of 
country  that  is  strongly  Baptistic.  There  we  had  our 
ministerial  unions.  We  exchanged  pulpits.  There 
was  no  lack  of  ministerial  association  and  fellowship. 
To  say  that  our  experience  was  new  and  strange  when 
we  settled  in  Brookings,  in  September,  1882,  feebly 
expresses  our  feelings  at  that  time.  Except  our  good 
brother  Ross,  who  was  then  located  at  Oakwood,  there 
was  no  Baptist  church  west  of  us  until  we  reached 
Huron;  none  to  the  north  until  we  reached  Watertown; 
and  none  south  until  we  reached  Egan  or  Dell  Rapids. 
I    do    not    remember    my    eastern    boundaries.     Our 


142  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

church  at  Brookings  numbered  nine  members.  As 
near  as  I  can  express  it  there  was  a  ming-led  feeling-  of 
loneliness  and  fascination.  We  were  lonely  because 
we  were  so  isolated;  fascinated  at  the  thoug-ht  of  lay- 
ing- foundations,  and  cherishing-  the  hope  that  the  little 
hamlets  would  soon  be  cities,  and  the  little  churches 
large  ones.  I  think  we  may  say  that  we  lived  larg-ely 
by  hope. 

The  annual  meeting'  of  the  state  convention,  which 
was  held  at  Sioux  Palls  the  following-  October,  fur- 
nished the  first  privileg-e  I  had  of  meeting-  my  brother 
ministers.  I  think  I  had  met  no  one  up  to  that  time 
except  Rev.  Walter  Ross.  At  that  meeting-  we  dedi- 
cated the  present  Baptist  church  building-  at  Sioux 
Falls.  There  we  discovered  the  necessity  of  an  edu- 
cational institution  for  Dakota.  The  speeches  were 
enthusiastic.  They  were  just  such  as  only  young- 
men,  with  little  or  no  experience  on  new  fields,  could 
make.  Then  we  discovered  the  g-reater  needs  of 
Dakota.  We  pictured  to  ourselves  how  cities  would 
spring-  up  by  mag-ic  all  over  the  prairies,  and  we  must 
take  them  for  Christ  and  the  Baptist  denomination. 
It  was  a  convention,  thoug-h  small,  that  was  brimful  of 
hope.  We  discovered  different  methods  of  doing  mis- 
sionary work.  Our  dear  brother  Ellis,  thought  we 
ought  to  reach  out  and  become  bishops  for  miles 
around.  Some  of  us,  with  our  eastern  ideas,  did  not 
know  how  it  was  possible  to  hold  a  center,  and  spread 
ourselves  over  the  prairies.  That  convention  did  me 
a  great  deal  of  good.  It  was  the  first  step  in  the  pro- 
cess of  westernizing  me. 

During  the  convention  we  ordained  our  good  brother, 
Jacob  Olson.  He  was  a  spare,  boyish  looking  Nor- 
wegian. His  speech  was  broken,  and  it  was  difficult 
for  him  to  make  himself  understood.  He  had  had  but 
little  training  in  the  schools,  but  there  was  a  genuine- 
ness and  abundant  common-sense  about  him  which  won 
our  hearts,  and  we  ordained  him.  Time  has  proved 
that  we  made  no  mistake,  for  who  has  stood  more  faith- 
fully at  his  post  than  he?     I  recall  a  number  of  friend- 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  143 

ships  formed  at  that  convention  which  I  have  always 
cherished,  with  Coffman,  Wineg-ar,  Ellis,  Freeman, 
Norton,  Cressey  and  others.  Orcutt  and  Adams  I 
had  known  in  Denison  University.  Ross  I  had  met 
before  coming*  to  Sioux  Palls. 

We  returned  to  our  small  fields  determined  to  lift  up 
the  standard  of  the  Lord  in  g-odless  Dakota.  It 
seemed  that  the  people  had  come  to  Dakota  for  every- 
thing* else  but  relig-ion.  Stores  were  open,  and  busi- 
ness was  conducted  on  the  Sabbath,  in  the  various 
towns,  about  as  on  any  other  day.  This  worldliness 
on  the  part  of  Christian  people  made  prog'ress  in  the 
churches  for  a  time  very  slow.  There  were  no  sweep- 
ing* revivals  reported  in  1883,  in  what  is  now  known  as 
South  Dakota.  Outside  of  Vermillion,  which  was  then 
what  mig*ht  be  called  an  old  church,  there  were  only 
fifty-three  baptisms  reported  for  the  whole  of  South 
Dakota.  At  that  time  there  were  thirty-one  churches 
in  the  Soutiiern  Dakota  and  the  Sioux  Valley  asso- 
ciations. 

It  was  a  period  of  g*athering-  tog*ether  and  org-anizing 
the  forces,  of  pouring*  the  g*ospel  into  the  church  mem- 
bers, and  leading*  them  back  to  their  first  love;  a  period 
most  trying*  to  the  pastor.  Some  pastors  who  came 
from  the  east  became  greatly  discouraged,  and  some 
even  resigned  at  the  end  of  six  months  and  went  back 
east  again.  It  would  be  interesting  to  follow  the  dif- 
ferent fields  in  their  vicissitudes,  but  that  would  make 
a  book.  I  sincerely  hope  that  ere  this  present  genera- 
tion passes  away,  some  one  will  give  us  a  history  of  the 
Baptists  of  South  Dakota.  Such  a  history  would 
record  many  triumphs,  and  at  the  same  time  would 
record  many  heroic  struggles  on  the  part  of  pastors 
and  their  wives,  in  holding  their  fields.  I  could  write 
page  after  page  of  struggles  which  have  come  under 
my  own  observation.  If  I  were  with  you  I  should  be 
tempted  to  relate  some  of  them,  but  I  must  forbear. 
These  struggles  arose  mainly  because  the  people  of 
Dakota  have  passed  through  such  vicissitudes. 

After    seven   years   of   work  in   eastern  Dakota,  we 


144  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

came  to  the  Black  Hills.  Ag-ain  we  plunged  into  the 
wilderness.  When  we  reached  Rapid  City  in  July, 
1889,  we  found  a  little  band  of  ten  persons  org-anized 
into  a  Baptist  church.  They  did  not  possess  even  a 
singing  book.  I  found  a  little  band  of  about  a  dozen  at 
Deadwood  with  Rev.  E.  Purvis  trying  to  lead  them.  This 
was  all  there  was  in  the  entire  Black  Hills  in  the  shape 
of  Baptist  churches.  There  was  not  a  Baptist  church 
building  in  the  Hills.  The  struggle  in  securing  houses 
of  worship  and  building  up  congregations  was  similar 
to  that  in  eastern  South  Dakota,  only  more  severe. 
The  same  period  of  gathering,  organizing  and  leading 
God's  people  back  to  their  first  love  had  to  be  entered 
upon  here.  I  am  glad  to  say  that  we  now  have  houses 
of  worship  at  Deadwood,  Custer  City,  Hot  Springs, 
Lead  City  and  Rapid  City.  We  have  also  church  or- 
ganizations at  Hill  City,  Oelrich  and  Beaver  Basin. 
We  have  now  reached  a  point  where  I  think  we  may  say 
that  the  Baptists  have  come  to  stay.  I  4iope  that  in 
the  near  future  there  may  be  sweeping  revivals  in  all 
these  towns,  and  place  the  churches  upon  a  high  spirit- 
ual plane.  Owing  to  the  financial  depression  and  the 
fact  that  the  Home  Mission  Society  must  cut  down 
appropriations  this  will  be  a  difficult  year  for  the 
churches  to  support  their  pastors.  I  presume  the 
same  will  be  true  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  state. 

As  I  think  of  what  has  been  accomplished  in  South 
Dakota,  during  the  past  twelve  years,  for  our  denomi- 
nation, I  thank  God  and  take  fresh  courage.  At  first 
thought  it  may  seem  small.  When  I  first  came  in  1882, 
I  think  that  our  churches  numbered  about  one  thou- 
sand members  in  all,  perhaps  not  so  many.  (The 
number  reported  that  year  was  846.)  To-day  (1894)  we 
must  have  nearly  five  thousand.  (5009.)  South  Dakota 
has  passed  through  severe  trials,  and  as  a  consequence 
there  have  been  many  removals.  Many  of  the  churches 
have  now  very  few  of  their  first  members.  When  we 
take  into  consideration  the  circumstances,  I  feel  that 
we  ought  to  be  profoundly  thankful  to  the  great  head 
of  the  church.     Surely  He  has  been  in  the  midst  of  the 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  145 

candlesticks  in  South  Dakota.  I  feel  that  we  should  be 
grateful  to  our  beloved  Home  Mission  Society  for  their 
steadfast  help.  I  feel  also  that  the  churches  of  South 
Dakota  owe  the  state  superintendent  of  missions  a  debt 
of  gratitude  for  his  patient,  faithful  and  wise  leader- 
ship throug-h  these  most  trying-  years.  May  our  kind 
Father  continue  His  blessing's  to  the  pastors  and 
churches  of  South  Dakota. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


THE  BL.ACK  HILLS, 

The  Black  Hills  are  located  mainly  in  South  Dakota, 
but  they  extend  across  its  western  boundary  into 
Wyoming-.  Including*  the  adjacent  foot  hills  they  cover 
an  area  of  from  seven  to  eig-ht  thousand  square  miles. 
Their  g-reatest  leng-th  about  one  hundred  miles  from 
north  to  south,  and  the'^averag-e  breadth  is  nearly  sixty 
miles.  They  rise  above  the  almost  boundless  plains 
like  an  island  in  mid-ocean.  A  study  of  the  g-eolog-y  of 
this  wonderful  region  clearly  shows  that  in  the  mig-hty 
upheaval  which  produced  this  cong^lomeration  of  moun- 
tains and  hills,  the  central  nucleus  or  core  was  Harney 
Peak,  having-  an  elevation  of  nearly  8,200  feet.  This  is 
a  mountain  of  nearly  solid  g-ranite.  Standing-  on  its 
summit  the  tourist  beholds  a  mag-niiicent  view  of  this 
g-reat  mountainous  "Island  of  the  Plain;"  while  the 
more  closely  observing-  g-eolog-ist  is  studying-  a  rare 
illustration  of  the  various  strata  which  once  lay  above 
the  fundamental  g-ranite,  but  now,  since  the  volcanic 
uplift,  dipping-  outwardly  on  all  sides,  and  their  out- 
cropping- edg-es  succeeding-  each  other  in  concentric 
ring-s. 

The  numerous  mountains  of  the  Black  Hills  were  not 
grouped  nor  classified  into  ranges.  They  were  up- 
heaved promiscuously,  each  one  seemingly  being  re- 
sponsible only  for  itself.     It  is  not  surprising-  that  this 


DEACON    T.  A.  B.  DEXTER, 

1S77-1S99. 
PIONEER   BAPTIST  IN   THE  BLACK   HILI.S. 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  147 

vast  reg-ion  has  become  a  specially  interesting-  study 
among"  gfeologists  and  mineralog^ists,  and  is  often  re- 
ferred to  as  a  g-eologfical  freak.  The  rocky  mountains 
and  hills,  scarred  and  blackened  by  volcanic  action, 
and  covered,  as  most  of  them  are,  with  immense  forests 
of  dark  pine  trees,  naturally  sug-g^ested  to  the  Indian 
tribes  who  first  dwelt  here,  a  significant  name,  which 
their  more  civilized  successors  have  never  attempted 
to  chang-e,  "The  Black  Hills." 

The  original  inhabitants  of  the  Black  Hills  were  the 
Crow  Indians.  After  securely  holding  possession  of 
them  for  many  generations,  they  were  driven  eastward, 
probably  a  century  ago,  by  the  Sioux  Indians,  and 
these,  in  comparatively  recent  years,  have  had  to  give 
way  to  the  encroachments  of  the  white  race,  assisted 
by  governmental  influence.  No  details  concerning  the 
Black  Hills  were  known  until  military  expeditions  were 
sent  to  explore  them.  The  first  of  these  was  sent  out 
in  September,  1857,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant 
(afterwards  Major  General)  G.  K.  Warren.  This  ex- 
pedition was  accompanied  by  a  well-known  geologist 
and  naturalist.  Dr.  P.  V.  Hayden.  On  account  of  the 
hostile  attitude  of  the  Indians,  only  a  small  portion  of 
the  country  was  explored,  and  the  effort  to  penetrate 
further  was  unsuccessful.  The  second  exploring  ex- 
pedition was  sent  to  the  Black  Hills  in  1874,  under  the 
command  of  General  Geo.  A.  Custer.  It  covered  a 
period  of  about  three  months,  and  was  successful  in 
securing  for  the  goverment  information  concerning  the 
extent,  and  some  of  the  resources,  of  that  wonderfully 
interesting  country. 

The  existence  of  gold  in  the  Black  Hills  was  prob- 
ably known  to  the  Indians,  but  if  so  they  carefully 
guarded  the  secret.     Nuggets  of  gold  were  occasion- 


148  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

ally  shown  by  Indians  to  white  men  whom  they  knew, 
and  who  were  considered  as  friends,  but  they  would 
not  reveal  the  places  where  they  were  found.  In  1889 
the  author  heard  Sitting-  Bull,  one  of  the  best  known 
chiefs  of  the  Sioux  Indians,  complain  that  the  Great 
Father  at  Washing-ton  had  kept  them  in  ig-norance  of 
the  existence  of  g-old  in  that  country  until  they  had 
ceded  the  Black  Hills  to  the  g^overnment,  and  were 
removed  to  the  Sioux  Indian  reservation.  But  this  was 
only  one  of  a  series  of  complaints.  It  is  likely  that 
they  knew  that  g-old  was  there,  but  they  did  not  know 
the  value  of  the  treasure  that  g-littered  in  the  sand  and 
gravel  along-  the  streams  in  their  mountainous  home. 
The  outside  world  was  in  ig-norance  of  its  existence. 
If  adventurous  white  men  ever  penetrated  the  hills, 
they  never  returned  to  tell  what  they  had  seen  and 
learned.  It  is  claimed  for  Dr.  P.  V.  Hayden,  the  g-eol- 
og-ist  who  was  with  the  Warren  expedition  in  1857,  by 
Charles  Picotte,  an  educated  half-breed  Yankton 
Indian  who  accompanied  him,  that  he  discovered  g-old 
while  examining"  some  rock  formations  near  Bear 
Butte,  but  if  such  a  discovery  was  made,  it  was  not 
made  public. 

The  first  authenticated  discovery  of  g-old  in  the  Black 
Hills  was  July  27,  1874,  during-  the  expedition  led  by 
General  Custer,  by  William  McKay  and  Horatio  N. 
Ross.  These  men  accompanied  Custer's  reg-iment  as 
guides  and  scouts.  They  had  formerly  been  engaged 
in  placer  mining  in  California.  When  the  expedition 
reached  a  point  on  French  Creek,  about  two  miles  from 
what  is  now  Custer  City,  they  noticed  some  shining 
particles  in  the  gravel  and  sand,  and  on  washing  a  few 
pans  full  of  it,  their  suspicions  were  confirmed.  The 
fact  soon  became  established  that  gold  existed  in  the 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  149 

Black  Hills.  Mr.  McKay,  one  of  the  men  who  made  so 
important  a  discovery,  died  several  years  ago.  Mr. 
Ross  is  still  livino-,  his  home  being-  at  Custer  City.  In 
an  extended  interview  with  him  in  1889,  and  other 
interviews  since  then,  he  related  many  interesting 
incidents  concerning  this  event,  and  the  exciting 
scenes  that  followed,  and  accompanied  the  writer  to  the 
place  on  French  Creek,  where  they  first  ascertained 
the  existence  of  gold.  He  gives  McKay  the  credit  of 
being  the  first  one  to  discover  the  existence  of  tin  in 
the  Black  Hills. 

As  this  region  then  belonged  to  the  Indians,  it  could 
not  be  occupied  by  white  men,  even  for  mining  pur- 
poses, without  their  consent.  When  it  became  known 
that  gold  could  be  found  there,  it  was  not  long  until 
thousands  of  courageous  men  flocked  to  the  hills  and 
mountains.  It  became  necessary  for  the  government 
to  use  the  soldiers  under  the  command  of  General 
Crook,  and  others,  in  what  proved  to  be  a  practically 
vain  attempt  to  drive  out  and  to  keep  out  the  miners. 
It  soon  became  evident  that  it  would  be  necessary  to 
make  a  treaty  with  the  Indians,  and  thus  secure  peace- 
able possession  of  the  Black  Hills.  A  commission  was 
appointed  June  18,  1875,  but  it  was  unsuccessful,  as  the 
Indians  demanded  an  unreasonable  price  from  the  gov- 
ernment. A  second  commission  was  appointed  early  in 
1876.  By  this  time  the  Indians  realized  that  if  they 
were  not  more  reasonable  in  their  demands,  the  miners 
would  take  forcible  possession,  and  they  would  realize 
nothing.  They  therefore  signed  a  treaty  which  secured 
for  them  a  fair  equivalent  for  their  lands.  The  treaty 
was  completed  September  26,  1876,  and  ratified  Febru- 
ary 28,  1877,  and  the  Indians  removed  eastward,  to  the 
Sioux  Reservation,  between  the  Black  Hills  and  the 
Missouri  river. 


150  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

Before  this  was  accomplished,  however,  many  local- 
ities were  practically  under  the  control  of  miners,  large 
companies  of  whom  were  formed  in  Iowa,  Nebraska 
and  other  states.  The  best  known  of  these  was  the 
Gordon  expedition,  from  Sioux  City,  la.  The  first 
building's  in  the  Black  Hills,  were  erected  by  them  on 
French  Creek,  about  three  miles  below  Custer  City. 
These  buildings  were  surrouded  by  a  carefully-built 
stockade.  The  first  town  established  was  Custer  City, 
on  August  10,  1875.  A  number  of  the  settlers,  who 
had  served  in  the  confederate  army,  wanted  it  called 
Stonewall,  but  the  majority  decided  that  it  should  be 
named  in  honor  of  General  George  A.  Custer.  During 
the  first  six  months  its  population  was  larger  than  it 
has  ever  been  since. 

On  the  discovery  of  gold  in  Deadwood  gulch  in  De- 
cember following,  the  population  of  Custer  City,  which 
had  been  over  five  thousand,  dwindled  rapidly  to  less 
than  thirty.  The  second  town  located  was  at  Hill  City, 
in  January,  1876,  by  a  company  of  miners  who  after- 
wards went  to  Deadwood.  The  first  discovery  of  gold 
in  Deadwood  gulch  was  made  early  in  December,  1875. 
A  party  of  nine  men  had  gone  there  prospecting,  and  of 
these, 'William  Gay  and  Joseph  Ingoldsby  first  saw  the 
shining  metal  at  a  place  opposite  the  site  of  the  present 
Deadwood  and  Central  City  toll  house.  Gold  was  found 
all  along  the  gulch,  and  very  soon  the  scene  of  activity 
was  removed  from  the  region  about  Custer  City  to 
Deadwood.  Rapid  City  was  established  in  February, 
1876,  by  John  R.  Brennan  and  others.  The  first  white 
woman  who  went  to  the  Black  Hills  is  said  to  have  been 
the  wife  of  General  Custer,  who  accompanied  him  on 
his  expedition  in  1874.  The  second  was  Mrs.  Anna  R. 
Tallent,  who  was  with  her  husband  in  the  Gordon  party 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  I5l 

from  Sioux  City  in  October,  1874.  The  third  was  the 
historical  character  known  throug-hout  the  northwest 
as  ''Calamity  Jane,"  who  drifted  into  the  Hills  with  the 
military  expedition  of  General  Crook  in  1875. 

Nearly  every  valuable  and  useful  mineral  known  to 
man  is  found  in  paying  quantities  in  the  Black  Hills. 
Among  these  are  gold,  silver,  copper,  tin,  nickel,  anti- 
mony, lead,  iron  and  coal.  The  annual  yield  of  gold, 
even  with  the  imperfect  means  of  development  on 
account  of  the  lack  of  railroads  until  recent  years,  has 
averaged  over  $3,500,000.  The  Homestake  company  at 
Lead  City,  which  has  been  in  existence  twenty-one 
years,  has  obtained  an  aggregate  of  over  S60,000,000. 
The  lowest  estimate  of  the  total  output  of  gold  in  the 
Black  Hills  is  $90,000,000.  This  places  South  Dakota 
in  the  third  rank  among  the  gold  producing  states  of 
the  Union.  Tin  abounds  in  many  places.  There  are 
two  great  tin  belts,  covering  an  area  of  over  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  square  miles.  Nickel  is  found  in  many 
places.  One  of  the  largest  nickel  mines  in  the  world  is 
near  Harney  Peak.  Merchantable  mica  exists  in  var- 
ious localities,  the  amount  already  produced  being 
worth  over  §600,000.  Bituminous  coal  is  abundant. 
Lignite  is  found  in  veins  varying  from  three  to  forty- 
five  feet  in  thickness.  Salt  and  petroleum  wells  exist 
on  the  southwestern  border.  The  mountainous  region 
is  encircled  by  enormous  belts  of  gypsum,  limestone 
and  marble.  The  quality  is  of  the  best,  and  the  supply 
is  inexhaustible.  It  has  been  repeatedly  stated  that 
there  is  no  other  place  of  equal  area  in  any  country 
that  abounds  so  richly  in  all  the  elements  of  wealth  and 
and  prosperity. 

Prom  the  ratification  of  the  treaty  with  the  Indians, 
in  April,  1877,   may  be  reckoned  the  beginning  of  the 


152  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

legalized  and  permanent  settlement  of  white  people  in 
the  Black  Hills.  Immediately  following-  this  treaty,  a 
number  of  settlements  were  established.  As  cities 
and  villag-es  were  developed  from  mining-  camps,  and 
the  pioneer  tents  and  cabins  of  miners  g-ave  place  to 
homes  and  families,  it  was  necessary  to  g-ive  some 
attention  to  the  relig-ious  needs  of  the  people.  The 
pioneer  missionary  in  the  Black  Hills  was  Rev.  Henry 
W.  Smith,  a  Methodist  Ininister,  who  was  killed  by  the 
Indians  Aug-ust  20,  1876,  while  on  his  way  from  Dead- 
wood  to  preach  at  Crook  City.  His  first  sermon  in  the 
Hills  was  preached  near  Custer  City,  May  7,  1876. 

The  first  church  organization  was  that  of  the  Cong-re- 
g-ationalists,  in  Deadwood,  about  Jaiiuary  1, 1877.  The 
first  churches  org-anized  in  Rapid  City  and  Lead  City, 
were  by  the  Cong-reg-ationalists,  both  in  1878.  The 
first  Methodist  church  organized  was  at  Deadwood, 
late  in  1877.  It  was  eleven  years  later  that  the  first 
Baptist  church  was  organized.  During  those  years 
there  were  doubtless  Baptists  among  the  increasing 
but  constantly  changing  population  in  the  Black  Hills, 
but  of  their  number  and  location  the  denomination  at 
large  knew  little  or  nothing.  It  has  sometimes  been 
asserted  that  the  Baptist  denomination  neglected  that 
region,  but  the  statement  is  hot  sustained  by  a  knowl- 
edge of  the  facts  in  the  case.  The  only  organization 
through  which  assistances  could  be  rendered  was  the 
American  Baptist  Home  Mission  Society.  At  that 
time  its  field  to  be  cultivated  was  as  large  as  it  is  now, 
but  its  financial  resources  and  ability  to  do  the  work 
needed  were  not  more  than  one-third  as  great  as  at  the 
present  time.  It  is  true  that  while  other  denominations 
gained  a  foothold  during  the  years  from  1877  to  1888, 
the  Baptists  had  to  begin  their  work   later.     This  is 


^ 


'«: 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OP  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  153 

a  matter  to  be  regretted,  but  it  could  not  be  avoided. 
It  was  financially  impossible,  under  conditions  then 
existing-,  for  the  Home  Mission  Society  to  enter  upon 
the  work  of  organization  in  that  important  region. 

In  February,  1884,  Rev.  J.  L.  DeLand,  of  Michigan, 
was  sent  by  the  society  to  the  Black  Hills  on  a  visit  of 
exploration.  He  was  instructed  to  ascertain  where 
Baptists  were  located,  and  the  prospective  importance 
of  the  localities  visited,  but  not  to  orjofanize  churches, 
leaving-  that  to  be  done  as  soon  afterward  as  the  finan- 
cial condition  of  the  society  would  warrant  it,  and  mis- 
sionaries could  be  found  willing  to  enter  the  field. 
Not  long-  after  the  visit  of  Mr.  DeLand,  the  society 
passed  through  the  experience  of  its  first  great  finan- 
cial embarrassment,  having-  to  strug-gle  with  a  debt  of 
nearly  $150,000.  The  beginning-  of  work  on  new  fields 
was  impossible,  and  retrenchment  on  fields  already 
occupied  was  a  necessity.  In  1887,  Rev.  Dwig-ht  Spen- 
cer, who  was  superintending  the  work  of  the  society  in 
Utah  and  Montana,  visited  the  Black  Hills.  Concern- 
ing this  visit  he  says:  "I  held  meetings  at  Buffalo 
Gap,  Hot  Springs,  Rapid  City,  Sturgis,  Deadwood,  and 
Lead  City.  In  addition  to  these  meeting's,  I  visited 
Baptists  in  many  localities,  and  talked  with  them  as  to 
the  prospects  of  denominational  work.  The  impress- 
ion was  that  the  time  was  not  favorable  just  then.  It 
was  not  then  known  just  what  points  new  railroads 
would  reach,  and  it  seemed  to  the  brethren  unwise  to 
beg-in  to  organize  and  build  until  this  was  settled."  In 
addition  to  the  foreg"oing  statements,  it  is  well  to 
remember  that  for  three  years  and  long-er,  previous  to 
1888,  the  financial  condition  of  the  society  rendered  it 
impracticable  to  appoint  a  superintendent  of  missions 
for  South  Dakota. 


154  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

In  May,  1888,  Rev.  T.  M.  Shanafelt  became  state 
superintendent  of  missions  for  South  Dakota,  including 
the  Black  Hills.  It  was  during*  this  year  that  the  first 
attempt  was  made  at  org*anization,  and  the  permanent 
occupancy  of  the  Black  Hills  by  Baptist  missionaries 
and  Baptist  churches.  It  was  decided  to  beg-in  at 
Deadwood.  Arrang^ements  were  made  for  the  appoint- 
ment of  Rev.  P.  Purvis,  who  entered  upon  his  work  at 
Deadwood  in  September,  1888.  The  first  Baptist 
church  in  the  Black  Hills  was  org-anized  at  Deadwood, 
October  31,  1888.  Mr.  Purvis  served  as  pastor  until 
January  1,  1890,  when  he  remov^ed  to  Sundance,  Wyo., 
and  after  a  short  pastorate  there  he  returned  to  the 
east.  Other  pastors  at  Deadwood  have  been  Rev.  A. 
W.  Snider,  from  April  1,  1890,  to  October  1,  1891;  Rev. 
Bartlett  Foskett,  from  November  1,  1891,  to  May  1, 
1893;  Rev.  W.  E.  Wig-ht,  one  year  from  May  1,  1893; 
Rev.  W.  A.  Mason,  D.  D.,  one  year,  beg-inning'  May  1, 
1894.  After  the  resig-nation  of  Dr.  Mason,  May  1,  1895, 
Miss  Ida  M.  Sherman,  evangelist,  was  eng'aged  as  sup- 
ply until  a  pastor  could  be  secured.  She  was  called  to 
the  pastorate  of  the  church  September  1,  1895,  and  has 
served  longer  than  any  of  her  predecessors.  The 
church  was  greatly  strengthened  and  encouraged,  and 
gained  a  strong  hold  on  the  people  of  the  city.  She 
organized,  and  with  the  assistance  of  the  church,  con- 
ducted successfully  a  Chinese  school  having  over  forty 
members.  Eleven  of  these  became  members  of  the 
church.  One  of  them  has  gone  to  China  as  a  Christian 
missionary.  It  is  an  interesting  fact  that  when  Rev. 
J.  L.  DeLand  was  sent  to  the  Black  Hills  as  a  mission- 
ary explorer,  he  found  at  Deadwood  two  Christian  Chi- 
nese, Effa  Tang  and  Chin  Youce,  one  of  them  a  mem- 
ber  of   a  Baptist  church  on   the   Pacific    coast.     The 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  155 

present  pastor  at  Deadwood  is  Rev.  C.  L.  Kirk. 
During"  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  A.  W.  Snider  a  fine  house 
of  worship  was  built,  which  was  dedicated  September 
6,  1891.  The  total  cost  of  the  building",  furniture,  and 
lots  was  $7,000.  Early  on  Sunday  morning,  October  2, 
1892,  it  was  seriously  injured  by  fire,  involving-  a  loss 
of  about  $1,800,  partially  covered  by  insurance.  The 
house  was  repaired  and  refurnished,  and  services  were 
resumed  December  18,  1892. 

The  church  at  Rapid  City  was  org-anized  June  16, 
1889.  On  the  first  of  July,  1889,  Rev.  G.  S.  Clevenger 
became  pastor.  His  services  closed  October  1,  1895, 
after  a  pastorate  of  about  six  years.  The  house  of 
worship  there  was  dedicated  March  15,  1891.  The  val- 
uation of  the  property  is  S5,000.  For  two  years  the 
church  was  without  a  pastor,  until  the  settlement  of 
Rev.  A.  B.  Steuernagel,  November  1,  1897.  He  was 
ordained  December  15,  1897.  The  church  at  Hot 
Spring's  was  organized  Aug-ust  27,  1890.  Its  first  pas- 
tor was  Rev.  E.  H.  Sweet.  He  beg-an  his  labors  there 
February  1,  1891,  but  remained  only  six  months,  when 
he  returned  to  Massachusetts.  For  one  year  the 
church  was  without  a  pastor,  but  services  were  con- 
ducted as  frequently  as  possible  by  Rev.  C.  H.  McKee, 
district  missionary,  and  others.  On  the  first  day  of 
August,  1892,  Rev.  Robert  Leslie  became  pastor,  and 
served  as  such  with  great  fidelity  and  earnestness  for 
four  years.  Rev.  J.  F.  Catlin  settled  as  pastor  Janu- 
ary 1,  1897.  He  was  ordained  April  13,  1897.  Lots 
were  secured  by  the  general  missionary,  and  a  house 
of  worship  was  begun  in  the  autumn  of  1891.  On 
account  of  the  difficulty  of  securing  necessary  funds, 
its  completion  was  delayed.  The  dedication  services 
were  held  August  28,  1892.  The  total  cost  of  the 
church  property  was  $5,000. 


156  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

The  church  at  Custer  City  was  organized  August 
30,  1890.  In  this  case,  as  also  at  Hot  Springs,  one  or 
two  preliminary  meetings  had  been  held,  but  the  work 
of  organization  was  perfected  on  the  dates  given.  It 
was  supplied  frequently  by  Rev.  C.  H.  McKee,  district 
missionary,  until  April  1,  1891,  when  he  became  pastor 
of  this  church,  and  also  of  the  church  at  Hill  City.  A 
house  of  worship  was  begun  in  the  closing  months  of 
1891.  It  was  dedicated  September  11,  1892,  during 
the  annual  meeting  of  the  Black  Hills  Association. 
The  cost  of  the  building  when  completed  was  §2,800. 
Rev.  C.  H.  McKee  continued  as  pastor  until  Septem- 
ber, 1894.  Rev.  James  W.  Given,  of  Louisville,  Ky., 
became  pastor  January  1,  1895,  but  served  only  until 
July.  Rev.  Henry  Cocks,  of  Kansas,  was  called  as 
pastor  July  1,  but  remained  only  three  months.  Rev. 
P.  T.  Drewett  began  his  labors  there  October  1,  1895, 
and  served  until  June,  1897.  Rev.  W.  H.  Austin  began 
his  labors  there  in  August,  1897.  He  was  ordained 
December  15,  1897. 

A  church  was  organized  at  Hill  City,  Aug-ust  31, 
1890.  Its  nominal  pastor  was  Rev.  C.  H.  McKee. 
Only  occasional  services  were  rendered  there,  begin- 
ning April  1,  1891,  and  continuing  at  distant  intervals 
for  a  couple  of  years.  When  the  Harney  Peak  Tin 
Mining  company,  whose  headquarters  were  at  Hill 
City,  suspended  operations  in  1893,  it  was  a  severe 
blow  to  the  prosperity  of  that  prospectively  important 
place,  and  among  the  many  who  removed  to  other  local- 
ities were  most  of  the  members  of  the  little  Baptist 
church.  The  few  who  remain  will  serve  as  a  nucleus 
of  the  church  of  the  future,  when  there  is  an  improved 
condition  of  business  interests  at  Hill  City. 

The  church  at  Lead  City  was  organized  September 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  157 

3,  1891.  Rev.  Geo.  H.  Thompson  was  called  to  the 
pastorate  in  February,  1892.  He  remained  however, 
only  a  few  weeks,  preferring-  to  continue  in  the  work  of 
an  evang-elist.  The  church  was  without  a  leader  until 
October  1,  1893,  when  Rev.  J.  A.  Archibald  became 
pastor.  He  was  ordained  April  18,  1894.  The  present 
pastor  is  Rev.  J.  A.  Marple.  A  house  of  worship  was 
dedicated  February  2,  1896.  It  is  valued  at  $2,500. 
The  young-est  of  the  Baptist  churches  in  the  Black 
Hills  are  located  at  Oelrichs  and  Beaver  Basin.  They 
were  org-anized  in  March,  1893,  Oelrichs  March  5,  an.d 
Beaver  Basin  March  27.  Rev.  F.  T.  Drewett  was  ordained 
March  9,  1893,  to  the  work  of  the  ministry  and  became 
their  pastor,  serving-  as  such  until  October  1,  1895, 
when  he  became  pastor  of  the  church  at  Custer  City, 
and  remained  until  June,  1897.  His  successors  have 
been  Rev.  K.  S.  Doug-lass  and  Rev.  J.  A.  Wrig-ht.  On 
the  western  side  of  the  Black  Hills  a  church  was  org-an- 
ized in  January,  1889,  at  Sundance,  Wyoming-.  Its 
first  pastor  was  Rev.  F.  Purvis,  who  removed  to  that 
field  at  the  close  of  his  pastorate  in  Deadwood.  On 
account  of  its  isolation  and  unfavorable  local  conditions, 
it  has  been  a  feeble  org-anization. 

Early  in  the  work  of  Baptist  development  of  the 
Black  Hills,  as  it  was  necessary  to  build  several  houses 
of  worship,  it  became  evident  that  a  larg-er  amount  of 
aid  would  be  necessary  than  could  be  furnished  by  the 
church  edifice  fund  of  the  Home  Mission  Society.  By 
request  of  the  board  of  that  society,  its  g-eneral  mis- 
sionary. Rev.  T.  M.  Shanafelt,  was  sent  to  Michig-an, 
in  January,  1890,  to  raise  a  special  church  edifice  fund 
of  $1,500  for  use  in  the  Black  Hills.  He  succeeded  in 
raising-  a  fund  of  $2,000,  to  which  was  later  added  $600 
more.     This    special   fund    furnished   g-reatly    needed 


158  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

assistance  in  the  erection  of  houses  of  worship,  espe- 
cially at  Deadwood,  Hot  Spring's,  Custer  City  and  Rapid 
City. 

The  Black  Hills  Baptist  Association  was  org'anized 
by  the  state  superintendent  of  missions,  at  Rapid  City, 
September  12,  1890.  At  its  beg-inning-  it  included  the 
churches  at  Deadwood,  Rapid  City,  Lead  City,  Custer 
City,  Hot  Spring's  and  Hill  City,  in  South  Dakota,  and 
Sundance  in  Wyoming.  The  churches  at  Oelrichs  and 
Beaver  Basin  were  admitted  to  the  Association  in  1893. 
Rev.  C.  H.  McKee  was  appointed  district  missionary 
for  the  Black  Hills,  April  1,  1890.  His  services  con- 
tinued one  year,  and  were  under  the  supervision  of  the 
g-eneral  missionary.  On  the  first  of  April,  1891,  he 
became  pastor  of  the  churches  at  Custer  City  and  Hill 
City,  and  continued  until  September,  1894,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Albany,  Oreg-on.  In  the  early  prosecution  of 
the  work,  valuable  assistance  was  rendered  by  Rev. 
H.  C.  Woods,  D.  D.  The  services  rendered  by 
Rev.  P.  H.  Wilkinson,  who  was  then  Sunday  school 
missionary  for  Wyoming"  and  the  Black  Hills,  in  house 
to  house  visitation,  and  the  org-anization  of  Sunday 
schools,  will  long'  be  gfratefully  remembered.  By 
special  arrangement  evangelistic  work  was  done  for 
three  months  by  Rev.  Geo.  H.  Thompson,  and  about 
eight  months  by  Miss  Ida  M.  Sherman,  which  served 
greatly  to  encourage  and  streng'then  the  churches. 

Deacon  T.  A.  B.  Dexter,  a  pioneer  Baptist  layman, 
came  to  Deadwood  in  1877.  After  years  of  anxious 
waiting,  he  has  been  permitted  to  see  the  Baptist  cause 
established  and  successfully  carried  on  in  the  Black 
Hills.  In  this  work  he  has  borne  an  important  part. 
Including  generous  assistance  rendered  to  his  own 
church  at  Deadwood,  he  has  been  a  liberal  contributor 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  159 

towards,  the  erection  of  the  other  houses  of  worship  in 
the  Hills. 

The  American  Baptist  Home  Mission  Society  has  a 
strong-  claim  upon  the  gratitude  of  tJie  Baptists  of  the 
Black  Hills  for  its  exceptional  liberality  in  the  g-ener- 
ous  assistance  rendered  in  the  support  of  missionaries 
and  building  houses  of  worship.  Considering  the  num- 
ber of  churches,  there  is  no  field,  of  equal  area,  in  all 
the  vast  territory  aided  by  the  Society,  where  its  ap- 
propriations have  been  .so  large,  from  both  the  mission- 
ary and  church  edifice  funds.  The  total  membership 
of  the  churches  as  reported  at  the  last  annual  meeting 
of  the  Association  is  283.  The  total  valuation  of  church 
property  is  $22,300. 

In  this  chapter  has  beengiven  a  description  of  the  Black 
Hills,  the  savage  tribes  of  Indians  who  first  inhabited 
them,  the  change  from  those  who  hunted  game  to  those 
who  sought  for  gold,  and  from  the  wild  and  reckless 
life  of  the  early  days  to  the  civilization  of  the  present. 
The  history  of  this  transition  from  a  condition  of  law- 
lessness to  one  of  law  and  order,  is  an  interesting 
study.  The  wild  scenes  of  disorder  and  reckless  dis- 
regard for  human  life,  too  often  witnessed  in  pioneer 
camps,  have  g-iven  way  to  the  stability  and  safety  of  a 
higher  civilization.  The  gambler  and  desperado  no 
longer  rule,  but  have  had  to  yield  to  the  domination 
of  a  better  element  in  society,  which  maintains  the 
sanctity  of  law,  and  stands  pledged  for  the  safety  of 
life  and  property.  This  influence,  tending-  to  righteous- 
ness, began  to  exert  its  power  early  in  the  reign  of 
lawlessness  and  crime.  The  minister  of  the  gospel 
told  of  a  better  life  and  a  higher  aim,  while  the  others 
drank  and  gambled  in  the  saloon. 

On  the  mountain  side,  overlooking  the  city  of  Dead- 


160  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

wood,  is  Mt.  Moriah  cemetery.  In  that  cemetery  are 
two  graves,  and  over  these  graves  have  been  placed 
statues  representing-  the  men  whose  mortal  remains  lie 
buried  there.  The  scroll  cut  on  one  of  these  bears  this 
inscription: 

Wild  Bill. 

J.  H.  Hickock,  died  Aug-ust  2,  1876, 

By  a  pistol  shot, 

Agfed  thirty-nine  years. 

Custer  was  lonely  without  him. 

Under  this  inscription  was  cut  in  the  marble  a  repre- 
sentation of  a  pair  of  pistols. 

On  the  other  statue  is  this  inscription: 

Rev.  Henry  Weston  Smith. 

Was  killed  by  Indians,  Aug-ust  20,  1876, 

.    While  on  his  way  from  Deadwood  to  preach  at 

Crook  City. 

"Faithful  unto  death." 

Under  this  the  sculptor's  chisel  has  g-iven  a  repre- 
sentation of  an  open  Bible.  The  deaths  of  these  men 
occurred  only  a  few  days  apart,  in  the  early  months  of 
the  existence  of  the  g-reat  mining-  camp  in  Deadwood 
gulch.  Both  were  suddenly  killed,  but  under  strang-ely 
different  conditions.  The  one  died  at  the  hands  of 
pag-an  Indians,  while  attempting-  faithfully  to  perform 
a  Christian  duty ;  the  other,  noted  as  a  desperado  and 
g-ambler,  was  assassinated  in  a  gambling-  house,  by 
another  of  his  l^ind,  who  was  jealous  of  his  success  and 
reputation  as  an  outlaw. 

The  lives  and  deeds  of  these  two  men^epresent  the 
higher  and  the  lower  conditions  of  society  in  the  pio- 
neer days  of  the  Black  Hills.  At  first  the  lower  con- 
trolled, and  robbery,  and  theft,  and  murder  were  com- 
mon events.     The  law  of  might  was  stronger  than  the 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  161 

law  of  rig-ht.  But  better  influences  were  at  work,  and 
year  by  year  better  conditions  prevailed.  The  pistol, 
which  made  Wild  Bill  and  his  class  the  terror  of  every 
community,  is  no  longer  in  constant  use  and  a  menace 
to  human  life.  It  has  had  to  yield  to  the  open  Bible  of 
the  martyr,  Smith.  The  lessons  of  that  book  have  not 
yet  banished  all  wrong-  doingf,  nor  made  all  men  Chris- 
tians, but  they  have  left  their  impress  on  the  people, 
and  broug-ht  about  a  better  condition  of  things  in  soci- 
ety, and  introduced  a  higher  civilization.  The  lawless- 
ness of  the  pioneer  mining  camp  has  become,  like  the 
road  agent,  a  thing  of  the  past,  and  in  its  place  has 
come  the  law-abiding  element  of  the  city,  where  homes, 
and  schools,  and  churches  have  been  established,  and 
are  now  maintained.  Human  life  is  as  safe  today  in 
the  Black  Hills  as  in  any  of  the  older  eastern  states, 
and  nowhere  else  are  the  rights  of  property  or  the 
sanctity  of  home  more  carefully  guarded  and  protected. 


IX 


CHAPTER  XVII. 


SCANDINAVIAN    BAPTISTS. 

Many  of  the  first  settlers  in  Dakota  came  from 
Sweden,  Norway  and  Denmark.  They  were  hardy  pio- 
neers, and  with  unshaken  courage  they  endured  the 
hardships  and  privations  of  those  early  years.  The 
constant  additions  to  their  number,  by  immig'ration, 
resulted  in  the  establishment  of  many  Scandinavian 
colonies.  In  these  settlements  churches  were  early 
organized.  Some  of  these  people  were  members  of 
Baptist  churches  in  their  fatherland.  They  brought 
their  religion  with  them.  On  securing  locations  for 
their  homes,  they  wanted  to  enjoy  religious  privileges. 
They  beg-an,  without  delay,  to  hold  meetings  in  their 
primitive  dwellings.  Most  of  these,  at  first,  were  dug'- 
outs  and  sod  houses,  but  in  many  of  them  the  voice  of 
prayer  and  praise  was  heard,  and  God  was  devoutly 
worshiped. 

The  first  Baptist  church  in  Dakota  Territory  that 
had  a  settled  pastor  was  the  Swedish  Baptist  church  at 
Big  Springs,  which  was  organized  early  in  July,  1869. 
This  church,  throug'h  its  pastor  and  other  delegates, 
assisted  in  the  organization  of  the  first  Baptist  associ- 
ation. Other  churches,  representing  the  Swedes,  Nor- 
wegians and  Danes,  were  organized,  and  their  number 
has  increased,  until  they  have  become  a  strong  and 
influential  factor  in  the  religious  development  of  a  new 


SWEDISH    BAPTIST    CHURCH,    BIG    SPRINGS. 

CHURCH    ORGANIZED  JULY,    1S69. 

FIRST    HOUSE   OF   WORSHIP    DEDICATED  JUNE   7,    1S73. 

PRESENT    HOUSE    OF    WORSHIP   DEDICATED   SEPTEMBER    24,    1S93. 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  163 

state.  Like  the  American  and  German  Baptists,  the 
first  Scandinavian  Baptist  churches  were  formed  in 
the  southern  counties^  and  their  g-rowth  was  north- 
ward and  westward.  In  tracing-  the  prog-ress  of  this 
g-rowth,  a  condensed  outline  of  the  history  of  these 
churches  is  here  g-iven. 

Big  Springs. — The  first  Swedish  immig-rants  came 
to  Big-  Spring-s,  in  Union  county,  in  1868.  Others 
arrived  in  the  spring-  of  1869.  They  came  from  the 
vicinity  of  Orebro,  Nerike,  Sweden.  A  larg-e  propor- 
tion of  them  were  Baptists,  and  had  been  members  of 
Baptist  churches  in  Sweden.  Early  in  July,  1869,  a 
meeting-  was  held  in  the  home  of  P.  A.  Ring-,  to  con- 
sider the  matter  of  org-anizing-  a  Baptist  church.  It 
was  a  sod  house,  intended  for  a  barn,  but  was  first 
used  as  the  family  dwelling-.  The  exact  date  of  this 
organization  cannot  be  g-iven,  as  the  early  records  are 
lost,  but  it  was  one  of  the  early  days  in  July.  There 
were  seven  constituent  members,  P.  A,  Ring-,  Andrew 
Lindbloom,  Peter  Larson,  and  their  wives,  and  Peter 
Johnson.  Mr.  Ring',  who  had  served  as  preacher  in 
Sweden,  was  chosen  to  preach  and  take  g*eneral  charg-e 
of  the  meeting-s.  This  he  continued  to  do  until  April, 
1876,  thoug-h  his  formal  relation  as  pastor  dates  from 
July  14,  1872.  Other  Swedish  Baptists  united  with 
the  church.  The  first  persons  baptized  were  Fred- 
erick Larsen,  Mrs.  Andrew  Anderson,  and  Miss  Lou- 
isa Johnson.  These  were  baptized  July  14,  1872,  by 
Rev.  A.  Norelius.  As  the  church  g*rew,  a  house  of 
worship  became  necessary,  and  one  was  built,  and  ded- 
icated June  7,  1874. 

Up  to  1876  the  church  was  harmonious.  Then  a 
division  of  sentiment  arose  on  the  Sabbath  question. 
Rev.  P,  A.  Ring-,  the  pastor,  led  a  movement  in  favor 


164  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

of  the  observance  of  the  seventh  day,  but  in  April  of 
that  year,  he  and  the  disturbing*  element  withdrew, 
and  formed  a  Seventh  Day  Baptist  church.  He  was 
succeeded  as  pastor  by  Rev.  A.  B.  Nordberg-.  The 
weakened  church  was  soon  streng-thened  by  accessions 
by  baptism  and  letter.  The  following*  ministers  have 
served  as  pastors:  P.  A.  Ring-,  A.  B.  Nordberg-,  C. 
Sandquist,  C.  M.  Widen,  Andrew  Johnson,  Andrew 
Swartz  and  C.  Silene.  There  were  some  long-  intervals 
between  pastorates,  but  services  were  reg-ularly  main- 
tained by  well  qualified  lay  members,  including'  C.  J. 
Nilson,  Peter  Johnson,  and  others.  Several  extensive 
revivals  were  enjoyed,  and  they  g-reatly  streng-thened 
the  church.  A  parsonag'e  was  built  during-  the  pastor- 
ate of  Rev.  Andrew  Johnson.  Following-  the  g-reat 
revival  of  1883,  a  new  and  larg-er  house  of  worship  be- 
came a  necessity.  Rev.  Andrew  Swartz,  pastor,  led 
in  this  movement,  which  was  successful.  It  was  dedi- 
cated September  24,  1893. 

Anticipatingf  slig-htly  the  actual  anniversary,  on  ac- 
count of  the  annual  meeting*  at  Big*  Spring's  of  the 
Scandinavian  Baptist  Conference  or  Association,  the 
twenty-fifth  anniversary  of  the  org'anization  of  the 
church  was  celebrated  June  3,  1894.  It  was  an  event 
of  very  deep  interest,  and  was  the  first  quarter  cen- 
tennial anniversary  ever  held  in  South  Dakota.  Five 
of  the  six  pastors  of  the  church  g'ave  addresses,  and  a 
letter  was  read  from  the  absent  one.  Rev.  Andrew 
Johnson.  Eng-lish  and  Swedish  copies  of  the  history 
of  the  church  were  read.  Mr.  A.  Lindbloom  the  only 
constituent  member  still  identified  with  the  church, 
was  an  interested  sharer  in  the  proceeding's. 

The  last  pastor,  Rev.  Christopher  Silene,  entered 
upon   his   work   in    September,    1894,    under    brighter 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  165 

prospects  than  any  of  his  predecessors.  With  a  larg-e 
experience,  and  possessing-  all  of  the  elements  of  lead- 
ership, he  has  led  the  work,  along-  all  lines,  to  success. 
The  church  has  now  over  two  hundred  members.  At 
least  one-half  of  these  are  young-  people,  well  trained 
in  Christian  work.  It  is  the  larg-est  Scandinavian 
Baptist  church  in  the  state.  Several  of  its  members 
are  Americans  and  Germans.  The  whole  region  round 
about  Big-  Springs  is  Baptist  in  sentiment.  The  people 
have  become  so  thoroughtly  Americanized,  that  since 
1888,  during  the  oversight  of  pastors  Johnson,  Swartz 
and  Silene,  one-half  of  the  services  have  been  conducted 
in  English.  This  language  is  used  almost  exclusively 
in  the  Sunday  school  and  young  people's  meetings. 

Bloomingdade. — There  were  Swedish  Baptist  set- 
tlers at  Bloom ingdale  as  early  as  1868.  So  far  as 
known  the  first  religious  service  held  by  them  was  at 
four  o'clock  on  Christmas  morning,  of  that  year.  The 
first  Swedish  Baptist  missionary  who  visited  the  field 
was  Rev.  P.  A.  Ring,  of  Big  Springs.  The  first  baptism 
at  Bloomingdale  occurred  June  14,  1871,  when  four 
converts  were  baptized  by  him.  He  organized  the 
church  October  15,  1871.  A  house  of  worship  was 
built  in  1878.  The  date  of  dedication  cannot  be  defi- 
nitely fixed,  but  it  was  probably  in  November.  From 
the  organization  of  the  church  until  August,  1874, 
many  were  added  to  the  church,  but  the  additions  were 
then  offset  by  an  almost  equal  number  of  exclusions, 
indicating  defective  early  leadership.  Many  turned 
away  to  seventh  day  adventism  and  other  errors,  and 
the  faithful  few  were  greatly  discouraged.  In  October, 
1884,  Rev.  Jacob  Olson,  Scandinavian  missionary, 
visited  the  field,  sought  out  the  genuine  members,  and 
was  able  to  reclaim  some  who  had  wandered  away. 


166  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OP  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

Rev.  James  Dundin,  from  Sweden,  became  pastor  in 
1885,  and  served  successfully  for  five  years.  His 
successors  have  been  Rev.  C.  J.  Nelson,  M.  A.  Frid- 
lund,  N.  A.  Lindholm  and  Olof  Lind.  The  church  is 
now  in  a  prosperous  condition.  The  missionary  visits 
of  Rev.  Jacob  Olsen  have  continued  throug-h  a  period  of 
fourteen  years,  and  have  resulted  in  much  g^ood  to  the 
church. 

LoDi. — An  American  Baptist  church  was  organized 
in  this  settlement  July  23,  1871.  As  the  people  were 
mainly  Danes,  after  a  few  years  it  became  extinct.  The 
Danish  Baptist  church  of  Lodi  was  org-anized  March 
25,  1872.  Its  g-rowth  was  rapid,  and  soon  it  increased 
to  a  membership  of  o^^er  forty.  For  more  than  eleven 
years  the  meeting's  of  the  church  were  held  in  the 
homes  of  the  members  and  in  school  houses.  The 
present  house  of  worship  was  dedicated  early  in 
October,  1883.  Many  of  the  members  lived  so  far  west 
of  the  usual  places  of  meeting-  that  another  org-anization 
seemed  to  be  necessary.  By  mutual  ag-reement  a 
majority  of  the  members,  twenty-seven  in  number, 
were  dismissed  for  the  purpose  of  org-anizing*  the 
Danish  church  at  Daneville.  Seven  ministers  have 
served  as  pastors  of  the  church  at  Lodi,  Rev.  Charles 
Anderson,  N.  Tychsen,  Marcus  Hansen,  T.  O.  Wold, 
M.  Nilson,  P.  P.  Overg-aard,  and  Jacob  Larsen.  The 
church  is  located  in  a  thickly  settled  farming-  com- 
munity. As  the  usual  place  of  business  and  postoffice 
address  of  most  of  the  members  is  Wakonda,  in  Jan- 
uary, 1898,  the  church  chang-ed  its  name  to  the  Bethel 
Scandinavian  Baptist  Church  of  Wakonda. 

Daneville. — Peter  Larsen  Christiansen  is  supposed 
to  have  been  the  first  Danish  Baptist  in  Dakota.  He 
came  in  in  1864.     Six  others  came  a  few  months  later. 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  167 

In  1872  others  came  from  Denmark  and  from  Racine, 
Wis.  Some  of  these  lived  in  Daneville,  Turner  county, 
and  others  in  Lodi,  Clay  county.  Ten  of  these  formed 
the  first  Danish  Baptist  church  in  Lodi,  March  25, 
1872.  In  1873  immig-ration  was  so  rapid  that  by  the 
close  of  the  year  thirty-seven  Baptists  lived  in  and 
near  the  Daneville  settlement.  Most  of  them  were 
members  of  the  Lodi  church.  The  distance  was  so 
g-reat  that  it  was  thought  best  to  have  a  church  org-an- 
ization  in  each  settlement.  For  this  purpose  the  entire 
church  met  at  Lodi  December  31,  1873.  Twenty-seven 
members  were  dismissed,  with  the  assistance  of  Rev. 
G.  W.  Freeman,  and  they  formed  the  organization 
known  as  the  Danish  Baptist  church  in  Daneville.  The 
organization  was  completed  June  3,  1874,  by  the  elec- 
tion of  officers,  including  Christian  Plet,  as  leader  of 
their  meetings.  Meetings  were  held  in  the  sod  houses 
of  the  settlers,  for  there  were,  as  yet,  no  school  houses. 
By  the  close  of  the  year  there  were  thirty-nine  mem- 
bers. About  this  time  the  proselyting  work  of  the 
Seventh  Day  Adventists  began,  and  the  leader  of  their 
meetings  and  others  were  led  astray.  About  this  time 
Rev.  Christian  Anderson,  from  Clark's  Grove,  Minn., 
became  pastor  of  both  the  Daneville  and  Lodi  churches. 
The  winter  of  1875-6  was  a  trying  period.  As  the  result 
of  the  work  of  the  Adventists,  the  Baptist  church  was 
reduced  to  twenty-three  members.  Among-  those  who 
were  drawn  away  were  the  pastor  and  deacons.  This 
was  the  period  of  the  grasshopper  raids,  and  all  of  the 
crops  were  destroyed.  The  few  members  who  re- 
mained sought  God  in  their  distress  and  prayed  for 
help,  and  for  a  pastor  who  would  be  true  and  faithful. 
In  March,  1876,  the  church  at  Clark's  Grove,  Minn., 
sent   Rev.    L.    Jacobson,    whose   labors    w^ere    greatly 


168  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

blessed.  After  a  few  weeks  he  went  away,  but  returned 
soon,  bring-ing  with  him  a  young-  man,  Nils  Tychsen, 
then  a  student  at  Morg-an  Park,  111.,  who  was  called  first 
as  supply  and  then  as  pastor.  His  labors  were  success- 
ful. At  the  end  of  the  year  there  were  forty-three 
members. 

The  next  year,  1877,  was  also  full  of  blessings. 
During"  this  year  they  began  to  build  a  house  of  wor- 
ship, which  they  first  used  in  June,  1878.  It  was  not 
fully  completed  until  1884.  Mr.  Tychsen  remained  on 
the  field  ten  years,  and  then  became  pastor  October  1, 
1886,  at  Dell  Rapids.  Rev.  M.  Hansen  settled  as  pas- 
tor at  Daneville  in  March,  1887.  During  this  year  the 
church  added  ten  acres  to  its  church  property.  In 
1888  a  parsonage  was  built.  In  August  of  that  year 
fifteen  members  were  dismissed  for  the  purpose  of 
organizing  the  Spring  Valley  Danish  church.  In  Feb- 
ruary, 1889,  the  pastor  resigned,  expecting  to  remove 
to  another  field  in  April.  During  the  memorable  elec- 
trical storm  on  the  second  day  of  April,  a  disastrous 
prairie  fire  swept  over  Daneville  and  destroyed  the 
house  of  worship,  parsonage  and  barn.  The  pastor, 
with  his  wife  and  children,  barely  escaped  from  the 
burning  parsonage  to  a  place  of  safety.  One  of  the 
members  of  the  church  was  burned  to  death. 

The  church  was  now  destitute  of  a  pastor,  a  parson- 
age, and  a  place  for  holding  meetings,  but  with  new 
courage  they  rallied,  and  began  to  build  a  house  of 
worship.  It  was  dedicated  November  10,  1889.  In  the 
spring  of  1891,  Rev.  N.  C.  Nelson  became  pastor.  He 
resigned  in  August,  1892,  to  settle  at  Pukwana.  Six- 
teen members  of  the  church  living  in  Yankton  county, 
were  dismissed,  December  30,  1892,  for  the  purpose  of 
organizing  the  church  in  Turkey  Valley.    H.M.  Ander- 


REV.  A.  B.  NORDBERG, 

1S76-1SS7. 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  169 

son,  of  Chicag-o  University,  supplied  the  church  dur- 
ing the  summer  of  1893,  and  settled  as  pastor  in  May, 
1894.  Under  his  labors  the  church  has  continued  to 
prosper. 

Brookings. — Rev.  Jacob  Olsen,  then  pastor  of  the 
Scandinavian  Baptist  church  of  King-sbury  county,  was 
the  first  Scandinavian  Baptist  who  held  a  relig-ious  ser- 
vice in  Brooking-s  county.  It  was  held  November  7, 
1882.  He  continued  for  two  weeks,  holding*  meeting's 
from  house  to  house,  until  no  dwelling-  house  was  larg-e 
enougfh  to  accommodate  the  people  who  attended.  The 
meetings  were  then  moved  into  Brooking-s,  and  held  in 
the  American  Baptist  church  building-.  It  seemed 
as  if  every  Scandinavian  home  had  become  more  or  less 
influenced  by  the  preaching*  of  the  g-ospel.  As  soon  as 
the  Lutherans  learned  that  the  interest  was  so  g-reat 
that  it  might  result  in  the  baptism  of  several  converts, 
and  the  organization  of  a  Baptist  church,  in  order  to 
keep  their  people  away  from  Mr.  Olsen's  meetings, 
they  sent  for  Lutheran  ministers  in  various  localities, 
who  surrounded  him  and  his  flock  with  daily  special 
meetings.  By  this  time,  however,  it  was  too  late  for 
them  to  stop  the  progress  of  the  work.  Eleven  con- 
verts were  baptized  March  11,  1883,  and  on  March 
15,  they  were  organized  into  the  Norwegian  Baptist 
church  of  Brookings. 

A  movement  was  beg-un,  without  delay,  to  build  a 
house  of  worship.  It  was  completed  and  dedicated 
December  19,  1883.  A  parsonage  was  afterwards 
secured.  Mr.  Olsen  continued  to  serve  the  church  as 
pastor,  in  connection  with  his  work  in  Kingsbury 
county,  until  he  became  state  missionary  for  the  Scan- 
dinavian Association  in  the  summer  of  1884.  Since 
then  the  church    has   had   three   pastors.  Revs.  C.  J. 


170  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OP  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

Westerg-aard,C.W.  Finwall,  and  J.  B.  Sundt.  In  1893 
several  of  the  most  active  members  removed  to  Ore- 
gon, and  since  then  the  church  has  had  no  settled  pas- 
tor, until  the  return  of  their  first  pastor.  Rev.  Jacob 
Olsen,  October  1,  1898. 

Strandburg. — The  first  Baptist  settlers  in  Strand- 
burg-  were  E.  M.  Dahlberg  and  N.  A.  Dahlberg-,  and 
their  families,  in  1880.  They  came  from  Sweden. 
The  first  meetinjaf  conducted  by  a  Baptist  minister  was 
held  in  January,  1882,  by,  Rev.  J.  A.  H.  Johnson.  The 
church  was  orgfanized  June  25,.  1882.  Duringf  nearly  all 
of  the  period  of  its  existence,  the  church  has  been 
without  a  settled  pastor,  but  services  have  been  reg*u- 
larly  maintained  by  the  two  experienced  laymen  named 
above.  E.  M.  Dahlberg  is  the  recognized  religious 
leader  of  the  church. 

Oldham. — The  Scandinavian  Baptist  church  of 
Kingsbury  county  was  organized  January  25,  1882. 
The  members  were  scattered  over  much  of  the  county, 
and  the  places  for  holding  religious  meetings  were 
various  school  houses  and  private  dwellings.  Rev. 
Jacob,  Olsen  came  from  Chicago,  July  4,  1882,  and  at 
once  became  pastor  of  this  church,  serving  it  and  also 
the  church  at  Brookings  until  October  1,  1884.  As  the 
number  of  Baptists  increased  the  name  of  the  church 
was  afterwards  changed  to  Oldham.  It  has  had  four 
pastors.  Rev.  C.  J.  Westergaard,  O.  L.  Hoien,  and  A.  A. 
Ohrn.  In  1888,  this  church  and  the  American  Bap- 
tist church  at  Oldham  jointly  erected  a  house  of  wor- 
ship. In  September,  1897,  these  two  church  organi- 
zations were  consolidated. 

Sioux  Palls.— Charles  Tornquist  and  his  wife  were 
the  first  Swedish  Baptists  in  Sioux  Palls.  They 
arrived  there  May  15,   1881.     Soon  after  Albert  Nor- 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  171 

ber^  and  Miss  Martha  Olsen  came,  and  others  followed. 
Rev.  C.  J.  Johnson,  pastor  at  Dell  Rapids,  was  the  first 
Scandinavian  Baptist  minister  who  visited  Sioux  Palls. 
He  beg-an  preaching-  there  in  the  summer  of  1882,  The 
first  Swedish  Baptist  church  of  Sioux  Falls  was  org-an- 
i zed  May  19,  1883,  by  Rev.  Frank  Peterson  and  C.  J. 
Johnson.  The  constituent  members  were  Charles 
Tornquist  and  Peter  Galvin  and  their  wives,  Aug-ust 
Johnson-,  A.  B.  Norberg-,  Olof  Larson  and  Martha 
Olsen.  Six  others  were  immediately  added  by  bap- 
tism. Rev.  C.  J.  Johnson  became  the  first  pastor  of 
the  church,  and  remained  until  January,  1885. 
During-  his  pastorate  a  house  of  worship  was  built.  It 
was  dedicated  December  21,  1884.  Other  pastors  have 
been  Revs.  A.  B.  Nordberg-,  J.  P.  Berlin,  A.  W.  Peter- 
son, K.  Ostlund,  H.  P.  Peterson,  and  L.  J.  Olsen.  In 
the  intervals  between  pastorates,  Rev.  Jacob  Olsen  has 
g-reatly  assisted  the  church.  Since  the  org-anization 
of  the  church  it  has  had  149  members.  Of  these 
seventy-one  were  received  by  baptism.  The  present 
number  of  members  is  fifty-seven. 

Sun  Prairie. — The  first  resident  Scandinavian  Bap- 
tists in  the  vicinity  of  Sun  Prairie,  Miner  county,  were 
John  Nilson^  C.  W.  Lindell  and  wife,  Mrs.  A.  Liljen- 
berg*,  Mrs.  Hannah  Nelson  and  Christine  Anderson, 
who  settled  there  in  1881.  The  first  Scandinavian 
Baptist  minister  was  Rev.  Charles  Johnson,  of  Sioux 
Falls,  who  visited  the  community  and  preached  at 
different  times  in  1881-2.  In  the  spring-  of  1883,  Rev. 
C.  M.  Widen  and  his  wife  came  from  Sweden.  Being- 
an  ordained  Baptist  minister,  he  beg-an  to  labor  among- 
the  people.  The  Scandinavian  Baptist  church  of  Sun 
Prairie  was  org-anized  at  the  home  of  C.  W.  Lindell, 
June   3,    1883.       With    occasional    intermissions,    the 


172  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OP  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

ag-greg-ate  time  spent  as  pastor  by  Rev.  C.  M.  Widen 
was  nearly  seven  years.  The  church  is  now  without  a 
pastor,  C.  W.  Lindell  is  the  chosen  leader  of  the  church. 

PuKWANA. — This  church  was  org-anized  by  Rev. 
Jacob  Olson,  July  25,  1885.  The  first  pastor  was  Rev. 
N.  Mattson,  who  was  ordained  September  4,  1885. 
During-  his  pastorate  the  church  g-rew  rapidly.  After 
he  left  the  field  October  1,  1891,  Rev.  N.  C.  Nelson  be- 
came pastor  in  October,  1892.  In  the  fall  of  1892,  a 
house  of  worship  was  secured  which  was  dedicated 
March  11,  1893.  In  the  fall  of  1892,  Rev.  F.  M.  Andrea- 
son  became  pastor.  A  year  later  he  resigned,  when 
the  work  was  resumed  by  Rev.  N.  C.  Nelson.  The 
church  has  had  many  trials  and  hindrances  in  its  work, 
but  its  present  outlook  is  encouraging-.  In  the  summer 
of  1896  the  chapel  was  totally  destroyed  by  a  severe 
wind  storm.  The  church  has  not  yet  been  able  to  build 
another. 

Dell  Rapids  (Danish). — In  1871,  N.  J.  Norgaard 
took  up  a  claim  northeast  of  where  Dell  Rapids  now 
stands.  There  were  then  no  dwellers  there  except 
Indians.  In  1872,  N.  C.  Sorenson  and  wife,  N.  P. 
Nielson  and  A.  Markesen  came,  and  in  1873  the  Morton 
Olsen  family.  These  few  Baptists  began  to  meet  for 
religious  services.  The  meetings  at  first  were  gener- 
ally led  by  Morton  Olsen.  Though  formerly  identified 
with  the  Adventists,  he  worked  and  worshiped  with  the 
Baptists.  In  the  spring  of  1874,  Jens  Olsen  and  his 
family  came  among  them.  Being  an  ordained  Baptist 
minister  from  the  old  country,  he  naturally  took  the 
lead  of  religious  meetings.  Later  arrivals  increased 
the  number  of  Baptists.  The  first  missionary  who 
visited  them  was  Rev.  L/.  Jacobson,  of  Clark's  Grove, 
Minn.,  in  1876.  The  second  was  Rev.  C.  J.  Johnson, 
in  1882,  who  for  some  time  rendered  service  there. 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  173 

By  previous  arrangement  eig'ht  persons  met  Decem- 
ber 9,  1885,  for  the  purpose  of  org-anizing-  a  Baptist 
church.  They  were  P.  M.  Olsen,  N.  J.  Norg-aard, 
Simon  Nielson,  J.  P.  Peterson,  C.  Sorenson,  N.  C. 
Sorenson  and  Sena  Sorenson.  Rev.  Jacob  Olsen  led  in 
the  org^anization  which  was  called  the  Scandinavian 
Baptist  church  of  Moody  county.  These  members  lived 
north  of  Dell  Rapids,  near  or  across  the  county  •line. 
During-  the  same  month  eleven  were  added  to  the 
church  by  experience  and  eight  by  baptism.  Most  of 
these  additions  were  the  result  of  special  meetings 
conducted  by  Missionary  Olsen. 

In  1886  some  members  then  living*  in  Dell  Rapids, 
and  some  who  belonged  to  the  American  church,  pro- 
posed the  organization  of  a  Scandinavian  Baptist  church 
in  town,  provided  a  pastor  could  be  secured  for  the  new 
org-anization  and  also  for  the  church  in  the  country. 
Rev.  N.  Tychsen,  of  Daneville,  became  pastor  in  Octo- 
ber, 1886.  The  Scandinavian  Baptist  church  of  Dell 
Rapids  was  organized  November  2,  1886.  A  year  later, 
November  2,  1887,  the  Scandinavian  Baptist  church  of 
Moody  county,  having-  then  a  membership  of  twenty- 
six,  disbanded  for  the  purpose  of  uniting-  with  the  later 
org-anization,  which,  previous  to  the  consolidation,  had 
forty-five  members.  Mr.  Tychsen  served  successfully 
as  pastor  until  the  close  of  1892,  when  he  removed  to 
California.  Rev.  A.  Carstensen  became  pastor  in 
April,  1893.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  H.  P.  Ander- 
son, who  settled  there  in  December,  1895.  The  present 
pastor  is  Rev.  A.  C.  Nasby.  The  church  has  a  com- 
fortable house  in  Dell  Rapids.  As  a  large  proportion 
of  the  members  live  in  the  country,  a  chapel  was  built 
for  their  convenience  in  1888. 

Scandinavian  Baptist  Church  of  Spink  County. 
— In  May,  1882,  S.  C.  Anderson  and  A.  P.  Clemenson 


174  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

and  their  families  settled  in  Beotia,  Spink  county. 
These  two  families  met  every  Lord's  day,  for  relig-ious 
services.  Later  a  few  other  Baptist  families  came. 
The  first  Baptist  sermon  was  preached  in  1886  by  Rev. 
S.  C.  Nielson.  In  July,  1887,  several  of  the  brethren 
visited  the  German  Baptist  church  then  existing-  at 
Warner,  Brown  county,  to  confer  with  them  as  to  the 
advisability  of  uniting-  with  that  church.  They  were 
cordially  received,  biit  were  advised  that  their  interests 
would  be  better  served  by  organizing-  a  church  among- 
people  of  their  own  nationality.  According-ly  they  met, 
July  10,  1887,  at  the  home  of  P.  H.  Jensen,  and  org-an- 
ized  the  Danish-Norweg'ian  Baptist  church  of  Spink 
county.  The  constituent  members  were  S.  C.  Ander- 
sen, A.  P.  Clemenson,  P.  H.  Jensen,  and  Anton 
Christiansen,  and  their  wives,  and  Mary  Olsen.  A 
Sunday  school  was  org-anized  in  April,  1888.  Rev. 
T.  O.  Wold  became  pastor  in  July,  1889,  but  remained 
only  three  months,  when  he  resig-ned  to  accept  a  pro- 
fessorship in  the  Dano-Norweg"ian  department  of  the 
theolog-ical  seminary  at  Morg-an  Park,  111.  K.  P.  Ham- 
mer served  as  pastor  in  1890,  and  S.  Holm  in  1893. 
During-  the  long-  periods  when  the  church  has  had  no 
pastor,  S.  C.  Anderson  and  S.  P.  Jensen  have  accept- 
ably and  successfully  conducted  relig-ious  services. 

Lake  Norden. — The  first  Baptist  settlers  along-  the 
shore  of  Lake  Norden,  from  1880  to  1883  were  A.  P. 
Palm  and  John  Lindell  and  their  wives.  They  broug'ht 
with  them  letters  of  dismission  from  the  Lannas  Bap- 
tist church  near  Orebro,  Nerike,  Sweden.  The  first 
meeting-s  were  held  in*  the  home  of  John  Lindell,  in  the 
summer  of  1881.  The  first  Baptist  sermon  was 
preached  by  Rev.  Jacob  Olsen,  in  1882.  The  church 
was  organized  September  17,  1888.     A.  P.  Palm  was 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  175 

ordained  October  12,  1888,  and  has  continued  to  serve 
as  pastor.  The  Sunday  school  was  organized  in  1*890. 
One  of  the  laymen  of  this  church  has  devoted  much  of 
his  time  to  preaching*  in  Scandinavian  settlements. 

Spring  Valley— In  May,  1882,  Jens  C.  Faarup  and 
family  and  J.  C.  Sorenson  and  wife,  settled  in  Spring 
Valley.  Finding  no  other  Baptists  there,  they  united 
with  the  church  at  Daneville,  whose  pastor.  Rev.  N. 
Tychsen,  afterwards  occupied  Spring  Valley  as  an 
out-station.  Peter  Anderson,  a  layman,  preached  every 
month  for  several  years.  The  Spring  Valley  Baptist 
church  was  organized  with  fifteen  members,  November 
11,  1888.  In  September,  1889,  Rev.  Lars  Hanson  became 
pastor,  remaining*  on  the  field  until  February  1,  1894. 
A  house  of  worship,  costing  $1,050.00,  was  dedicated 
March  27,  1892.  Rev.  L.  E.  Larsen  was  called  as  pastor 
February  1,  1894,  and  served  one  year.  Since  he  re- 
signed, the  church  has  had  no  pastor,  but  student  sup- 
plies have  rendered  acceptable  service  during  the  sum- 
mer months. 

Orleans. — Orleans  was  first  settled  by  Scandina- 
vians in  the  spring  of  1885.  Erick  Olsen  and  O.  Olsen 
and  their  families  were  the  first  Baptists.  A  Baptist 
church  of  eight  members  was  organized  April  8,  1888. 
It  was  then  called  the  First  Swedish  Baptist  church  of 
Millard.  The  name  was  afterwards  changed  to 
Orleans.  In  1889,  Rev.  N.  P.  Wik  came  from  Sweden 
to  become  its  pastor,  and  he  has  continued  to  serve  as 
such  to  the  present  time.  The  church  has  enjoyed 
several  revivals,  and  new  members  have  frequently  been 
received.  Baptist  sentiments  pervade  the  entire  com- 
munity. During  the  last  six  years  the  church  has 
contributed  S368.42  for  foreign  missions,  and  S()75.68 
for  home  missions  and  current  expenses. 


176       the  baptist  history  of  south  dakota. 

Norwegian  Baptist  Church  of  Miner  County, 
OR  Berton. — On  the  first  Sunday  after  Christmas, 
1888,  Rev.  C.  M.  Widen,  and  S.  H.  Liljenberg-  beg-an  a 
series  of  meeting's  in  Hanson  school  house,  Hendea 
township.  There  were  only  two  Baptists  then  living' 
in  that  community,  August  Erickson  and  wife,  recently 
from  Sweden.  A  few  families  lived  near  there  who 
wished  for  a  clearer  knowledg-e  of  the  Scriptures.  In 
attending-  these  meeting's  they  found  what  they  soug-ht, 
and  were  g^reatly  helped.  Soon  after  meeting's  were 
held  further  north,  in  Errickson's  school  house,  near 
the  Lutheran  church.  When  the  Lutherans  learned 
that  these  men  were  Baptists,  they  had  the  school 
house  closed  ag-ainst  them.  Prom  there  they  went  to 
Berton,  where  some  families  were  living-  who  had  left 
the  Lutheran  church,  and  were  waiting-  and  looking  for 
something  better.  Meetings  were  held  in  their  homes, 
and  a  large  number  were  converted.  In  May,  1889, 
Rev.  Jacob  Olsen  arid  Rev.  L.  Hanson  visited  that 
neighborhood.  They  conducted  several  meetings  and 
fourteen  were  baptized.  Soon  after,  June  16,  1889,  the 
Norwegian  Baptist  church  of  Miner  county  was  organ- 
ized in  the  house  of  Jacob  Holm.  The  need  of  a  house 
of  worship  was  seriously  felt,  but  the  poverty  of  the 
people  seemed  to  make  it  impossible  to  build  one.  At 
length  it  was  agreed  by  each  member  to  set  apart  as  a 
chapel  fund  the  proceeds  of  one  or  more  acres  of  wheat 
each  year,  until  enough  could  be  saved  to  pay  for  a 
church  home.  The  plan  was  carried  out,  and  a  com- 
fortable chapel,  worth  $800,  was  dedicated  November 
21,  1897. 

Huron. — A  few  devoted  Swedish  Baptists  in  Huron 
and  vicinity,  desired  an  organization  of  their  own.  A 
meeting  was  held  in  the  First  Baptist  church,  Decem- 


REV.  NILS    TYCHSEN, 

1876-189.^ 
MEMBER   OF   TERRITORIAL   LEGISLATURE,    18S3. 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  177 

ber  19,  1889,  at  which  time  the  Swedish  Baptist  church 
of  Huron  was  organized.  Rev.  A.  P.  Palm  served  as 
pastor  about  three  years.  As  the  Swedish  population 
is  small  and  not  increasing',  and  it  is  practically  impos- 
sible to  support  a  pastor,  it  is  probable  that  the  organ- 
ization will  not  be  continued  beyond  1899,  and  that  the 
members  will  become  identified  with  the  American 
Baptist  church  in  Huron. 

Turkey  Valley. — Beginning-  with  1879,  a  few  Bap- 
tists lived  in  Turkey  Valley,  Yankton  county,  who 
became  members  of  the  Danish  church  at  Daneville. 
It  was  for  some  time  an  out-station  of  the  Daneville 
church.  Efforts  to  maintain  a  Sunday  school  in  the 
early  days  were  only  partially  successful,  as  the  chil- 
dren were  occupied  during-  each  summer  in  herding- 
cattle.  The  Turkey  Valley  Baptist  church  was  or- 
ganized February  8,  1893.  P.  P.  Ovegaard  supplied 
the  church  during'  the  summers  of  1893-4.  Peter 
Anderson,  a  lay  member  of  the  church,  rendered  ex- 
tended service  as  a  supply.  A  house  of  worship,  cost- 
ing $1,412.00  was  built  in  the  summer  of  1894.  It  was 
dedicated  October  21,  1894.  P.  P.  Ovegaard  was  or- 
dained June  3,  1895,  and  served  as  pastor  one  year. 
Rev.  P.  M.  Andreason  was  pastor  six  months,  in  1897. 

Vernon. — The  church  at  Vernon,  Roberts  county, 
was  organized  by  Rev.  Jacob  Olson,  June  19,  1897. 
A.  J.  Swelander  served  as  supply  for  several  months 
and  during  that  period  fifteen  were  baptized.  O.  G. 
Newgreen  has  served  the  church  since  April,  1898. 
Efforts  will  be  made  soon  to  build  a  chapel. 

Summit. — The  youngest  of  the  Scandinavian  churches 
in  the  state  is  located  at  Summit,  in  Roberts  county. 
It  was  organized  largely  through  the  services  ren- 
dered it  by  A.  J.  Swelander,  who  was  ordained  as  pastor 


178  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

December  6,  1898.  The  church  was  org-anized  March 
13,  1898.  Though  nominally  a  Scandinavian  church  it 
is  intended  to  meet  the  needs  of  Americans  as  well  as 
Scandinavians.  Services  are  conducted  in  both  lan- 
g-uag-es,  and  all  nationalities  are  represented  in  the 
membership.  A  house  of  worship  has  been  erected 
which  will  soon  be  dedicated. 

The  following-  list  gives  the  name  and  date  of  org-ani- 
zation  of  all  of  the  Scandinavian  Baptist  churches  in 
South  Dakota: 

Big-  Springs,  July,  1869. 

Bloomingdale,  October  15,  1871. 

Lodi,  March  25,  1872. 

Daneville,  December  31,  1873. 

Oldham,  January  25,  1882. 

Strandburg-,  June  25,  1882. 

Brookings,  March  15,  1883. 

Sioux  Falls,  May  19,  1883. 

Sun  Prairie,  June  3,  1883. 

Pukwana,  July  25,  1885. 

Dell  Rapids,  November  2,  1886. 

Spink  County,  July  10,  1887. 

Orleans,  April  8,  1888. 

Lake  Norden,  September  17,  1888. 

Spring  Valley,  November  11,  1888. 

Miner  County,  June  16,  1889. 

Huron,  December  19,  1889. 

Turkey  Valley,  February  8,  1893. 

Vernon,  June"  19,  1897. 

Summit,  March  13,  1898. 


In  this  historical  review  of  the  nineteen  Scandinavian 
Baptist  churches  in  South  Dakota,  it  will  be  observed 
that   four    of   them    were   organized  early  in  the  first 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  179 

decade;  Big-  Spring's  in  1869,  Blooming-dale  in  1871, 
Lodi  in  1872,  and  Daneville  in  1873.  There  was  an  in- 
terval of  over  ei^ht  years  before  the  fifth  church  was 
organized. 

This  long-  period  of  seeming-  inactivity  may  have  been 
due  in  part  to  the  poverty  of  the  people,  the  frequent 
crop  failures  and  g-rasshopper  scourg-es,  and  the  finan- 
cial depression  throug-hout  the  country.  Another 
cause  of  this  long  delay  was  the  lack  of  a  superintend- 
ing missionary,  to  visit  and  encourage  the  churches. 
But  the  principal  thing  that  operated  against  their 
progress  was  the  apostasy  of  some  of  the  pastors  and 
a  large  proportion  of  the  members  of  the  few  Scandi- 
navian churches  then  in  existence,  on  account  of  the 
pernicious  activity  of  Seventh  Day  Adventists,  in  dis- 
seminating their  views  concerning  the  observance  of 
the  seventh  day  of  the  week  instead  of  the  first.  Mat- 
ters became  so  serious  during  the  years  1874-5-6,  that 
the  existence  of  these  churches  was  threatened. 

These  Adventist  missionaries  were  Scandinavians, 
and  the  greatest  injury  to  our  cause  was  done  among- 
the  people  of  their  own  nationality.  The  four  Scandi- 
navian Baptist  churches  were  rent  and  torn  for  a  time, 
and  disruption  seemed  to  be  inevitable.  In  this  criti- 
cal situation  of  affairs  Rev.  J.  N.  Webb,  D.  D.,  district 
secretary,  made  arrangements  to  have  Rev.  P.  H. 
Damm,  of  Iowa,  and  Rev.  Theodore  Hessel,  of  Nebras- 
ka, both  Scandinavians,  visit  these  churches  and  en- 
deaver  to  stay  the  contagion.  The  latter  was  continued 
on  the  field  for  some  time.  Their  labors  were  finally 
successful.  Some  were  reclaimed  and  many  were  ex- 
cluded. One  of  the  leaders  in  this  disaffection,  a 
former  pastor  of  the  Lodi  and  Daneville  churches,  after 
he  saw  his  serious  error,  brooded  and  grieved  over  his 


180  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

wrong-  doing-  until  he  thought  it  was  unpardonable,  and 
in  his  despair  he  took  his  own  life.  The  churches 
were  saved,  but  it  was  long  before  they  could  fully  re- 
cover from  the  injury  received. 

With  the  incoming-  tide  of  immigration  which  fol- 
lowed the  rapid  building  of  railroad  lines  in  1879  and 
1880,  were  many  Scandinavian  Baptists.  There  were 
soon  many  new  settlements  of  Swedes,  Norwegians 
and  Danes.  In  some  of  these  there  were  enougfh  of 
Baptists  to  call  for  special  missionary  work,  and  render 
necessary  the  appointment  of  a  Scandinavian  mission- 
ary. A  leader  was  needed.  He  was  already  on  the 
held,  serving  as  pastor  of  one  of  the  first  Scandinavian 
churches  organized  after  the  eight  years  of  waiting. 
In  addition  to  his  work  as  a  pastor,  he  had  shown  that 
he  possessed  the  qualifications  needed  in  a  superin- 
tending- missionary,  by  the  itinerant  missionary  work 
which  he  had  done  in  Brooking's,  Hamlin,  and  other 
counties.  The  man  for  the  emergency  was  Rev.  Jacob 
Olsen.  He  was  chosen  as  Scandinavian  missionary  for 
South  Dakota,  by  the  Scandinavian  Baptist  conference, 
in  the  summer  of  1884,  and  continued  to  serve  as  such 
until  October  1,  1898.  As  he  has  been  so  actively 
engaged  in  missionary  work  for  many  years,  the  fol- 
lowing brief  sketch  of  his  early  life  is  here  given: 

Jacob  Olsen  was  born  in  Bierkland,  near  Haugusend, 
Norway,  February  10,  1850.  When  he  was  fifteen 
years  old  he  went  to  sea.  He  made  rapid  advancement 
in  seamanship,  and  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  he  ranked 
as  an  able  seaman  on  one  of  the  largest  Norwegian 
ships.  When  a  little  past  twenty-one  years  old,  he 
landed  at  Philadelphia,  March  11,  1871.  He  was  then 
third  mate  on  the  Norwegian  ship  Hobert.  On  that 
day  he  accompanied  the  captain  up  to  the  city.     As  he 


KEY.  JACOB    OLSEN, 

1S82-189Q. 
SCANDINAVIAN   MISSIONARY    18S4-1898. 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF   SOUTH  DAKOTA.  181 

and  the  captain  stood  on  the  dock,  above  which  an 
American  flag-  was  floating-,  Olsen  said:  "I  am  going- 
to  take  the  oath  of  loyalty  to  the  stars  and  stripes." 
He  left  the  ship  and  came  west  to  Buffalo,  N.  Y.  He 
beg-an  sailing"  on  the  lakes  in  the  summer  of  1871,  and 
continued  four  years,  having-  risen  to  the  position  of 
first  mate.  He  was  married  April  11,  1873,  to  Clara 
Roundquist,  who  was  born  in  Sweden. 

In  1877  he  was  converted,  and  became  a  member,  and 
soon  after  a  deacon,  of  the  Danish-Norweg-ian  Baptist 
church  in  Chicag'o.  He  spent  two  years — 1880-81 — in 
the  Dano-Norweg-ian  department  of  the  theolog-ical  sem- 
inary, at  Morg-an  Park,  111.  In  1882  he  came  with  his 
family  to  Dakota,  arriving-  at  Lake  Preston  July  4.  He 
entered  at  once  upon  the  work  of  a  missionary  pastor, 
serving-  the  Norweg-ian  Baptist  church  of  Kingsbury 
county,  and  also  the  Norweg-ian  Baptist  church  at 
Brooking-s,  which  he  org-anized  March  15,  1883.  He 
was  ordained  at  Sioux  Palls  November  2,  1882,  during* 
the  first  annual  meeting-  of  the  state  convention.  Since 
his  election,  in  1884,  as  Scandinavian  missionary,  he 
has  proved  to  be  a  wise  and  careful  leader.  The  pro- 
g-ress  of  the  work  among-  the  Scandinavian  people  has 
been  g-ratifying-,  and  new  churches  have  been  org-anized 
in  various  portions  of  the  state.  After  fourteen  years 
of  continuous  and  faithful  service,  he  closed  his  labors 
October  1,  1898.  Thoug-h  specially  devoted  to  the 
interests  of  the  Swedes,  Norweg-ians  and  Danes,  he 
sustained  cordial  and  intimate  relations  with  American 
Baptists.  He  has  been  held  in  the  hig-hest  esteem 
among- them,  and  "his  praise  is  in  all  the  churches." 
As  an  oflicer  of  the  state  convention,  and  a  member  of 
its  board  of  manag-ers,  and  of  its  executive  committee, 
his  co-workers  long-  ag-o  learned  to  appreciate  his  worth, 


182  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OP  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  - 

and  to  love  him  for  his  high  christian  character,  his 
genial  spirit,  and  his  broad  and  generous  sympathy 
with  every  good  work.  In  the  councils  of  the  denomi- 
nation he  was  always  efficient,  and  in  the  homes  of  the 
people  he  has  always  been  a  welcome  guest.  Cordial 
welcome  has  been  given  to  his  successor.  Rev.  Andrew 
Swartz.  Having  been  for  several  years  a  pastor  in  the 
state,  he  is  familiar  with  the  field  and  its  needs,  and 
possesses  the  qualifications  necessary  for  the  respon- 
sible position  to  which  he  has  been  called. 

In  October  or  November,  1874,  the  Scandinavian 
Baptists  organized  a  missionary  conference  at  Lodi. 
This  was  not  intended  to  serve  the  purpose  of  an  asso- 
ciation, but  gave  them  an  opportunity  to  meet  for  the 
consideration,  in  their  own  language,  of  missionary  and 
other  topics.  It  answered  a  useful  purpose,  unifying 
the  work  and  aims  of  the  three  nationalities  repre- 
sentd  in  the  organization,  and  binding  them  together 
in  a  bond  that  yet  remains  unbroken.  The  early 
churches  became  members  of  the  Southern  Dakota 
Association.  Churches  further  north,  that  were 
organized  in  later  years,  identified  themselves  with  the 
Sioux  Valley  Association.  This  affiliation  of  Ameri- 
can and  Scandinavian  churches  continued  until  the 
number  of  the  latter  had  so  increased  as  to  justify  an 
organization  of  their  own.  They  then  utilized  their 
old  missionary  conference,  which  was  still  in  existence, 
and  in  1886  it  became  the  Scandinavian  Baptist  Associ- 
ation of  South  Dakota. 

In  this  association  there  are  now  nineteen  churches, 
designated  according  to  the  nationality  most  largely 
represented  in  each.  Of  these,  nine  are  Swedish 
churches — Big  Springs,  Bloomingdale,  Sioux  Palls, 
Orleans,    Huron,    Ivake   Norden,  Vernon,    Strandburg 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  183 

and  Sun  Prairie;  five  are  Danish  churches — Daneville, 
Lodi,  Dell  Rapids,  Spring-  Valley  and  Turkey  Valley; 
two  are  Norwegian — Brooking-s  and  Miner  County  (or 
Burton);  and  three  are  Danish-Norwegian — Spink 
County,  Pukwana  and  Summit.  There  is  no  other 
state  in  which  all  of  these  three  nationalities  work 
tog-ether  harmoniously  and  successfully  in  one  org-ani- 
zation.  They  are  closely  united  in  every  movement 
intended  to  promote  the  welfare  of  their  people,  and 
advance  all  the  interests  of  the  state,  and  they  are  in 
hearty  sympathy  and  co-operation  with  their  brethren 
in  the  American  Baptist  churches.  .  These  nineteen 
Scandinavian  Baptist  churches  have  897  members,  thir- 
teen houses  of  worship,  and  three  parsonag-es.  The 
total  valuation  of  their  church  property  is  $19,500.  In 
addition  to  the  number  of  members  stated  above,  in 
many  localities  there  are  Scandinavian  Baptists  who 
are  members  of  American  Baptist  churches. 

The  natural  tendency  of  Scandinavian  Lutherans, 
when  truly  converted,  is  to  identify  themselves  with 
the  Baptists.  As  a  general  rule  they  are  in  fullest  sym- 
pathy with  every  department  of  evangelical  work. 
They  are  characterized  by  an  earnest  devotion  to  the 
church  and  all  its  interests,  deep  spirituality  and  un- 
stinted liberality,  especially  to  the  cause  of  missions. 
Church  discipline  is  carefully  maintained,  and  there  is 
always  manifested  a  parental  and  brotherly  watchful- 
ness over  the  daily  lives  of  their  members.  An  intense- 
ly devotional  spirit  pervades  their  meetings,  and  they 
are  responsive  to  the  calls  of  duty.  Their  pastors  are 
earnest,  usually  well  educated,  and  conscientiously  de- 
voted to  their  calling. 

The  ratio  of  increase  in  the  number  of  church  organi- 
zations and  members  is  relatively  larger  than  is  usual 


184  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

among  American  Baptists.  They  unselfishly  foster 
their  own  interests.  Naturally  their  field  of  operations 
is  bounded  by  lines  of  nationality,  but  many  others 
have  been  inspired  and  helped  by  them.  They  g-uard 
carefully  ag-ainst  the  growth  of  grievances  among 
brethren,  and  in  the  settlement  of  difficulties  they 
manifest  wisdom  and  ability.  Here  is  an  illustration 
of  tact  and  sound  judgment,  not  always  exhibited  by 
ecclesiastical  councils.  On  one  occasion  one  of  the  Scan- 
dinavian churches  became  involved  in  a  serious  quarrel. 
It  had  grown  to  such  proportions  that  it  became  neces- 
sary for  a  council  to  meet,  and  try  to  restore  harmony 
and  peace.  The  council  met  at  the  seat  of  war,  but 
instead  of  listening  to  statements  of  grievances  from 
the  contending  factions,  after  earnestly  exhorting  them 
to  manifest  a  Christ-like  spirit,  and  settle  their  own 
difficulties  among  themselves,  the  council  left  them  to 
themselves,  and  withdrew  to  another  place  to  spend 
the  time  in  earnest  prayer  for  those  who  had  become 
estranged  from  each  other.  It  was  not  long'  until  the 
members  of  the  council  were  summoned  to  the  church. 
On  arriving  there  they  were  informed  that  the  warring- 
factions  were  reconciled,  and  that  all  roots'  of  bitterness 
had  been  removed.  This  is  a  model  plan  for  settling 
church  quarrels  and  grievances  among  brethren,  and 
it  could  be  wisely  followed  on  many  occasions. 

The  Scandinavians  are  recognizing  the  inevitable 
tendency  of  foreign  born  people,  who  come  to  this  coun- 
try to  establish  homes  for  themselves  and  their  chil- 
dren, to  become  Americanized  in  languag'eand  customs. 
They  are  generally  accepting  the  fact  that  the  younger 
generation,  most  of  whom  were  born  in  this  country, 
will  identify  themselves  with  those  with  whom  they 
have  common   business,    social  and    religious   associa- 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OP  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  185 

tions.  The  necessity  for  maintaining"  their  own  church 
org-anizations  still  exists,  but  in  the  course  of  time 
separate  org^anizations  will  g'radually  diminish  in  num- 
ber. A  movement  in  this  direction  has  been  inaug-u- 
rated.  At  Oldham,  there  existed,  for  several  years, 
two  Baptist  churches,  one  Scandinavian  and  the  other 
American.  The  former  was  what  was  orig-inally  known 
as  the  Scandinavian  Baptist  church  of  King-sbury 
county.  Recently,  by  the  mutual  and  hearty  ag-ree- 
ment  of  these  two  churches  they  were  consolidated, 
and  hereafter  an  Eng-lish  speaking-  pastor  will  be  the 
spiritual  leader  of  the  people  in  that  locality. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


GERMAN  AND  RUSSIAN  BAPTISTS. 

Among'  the  foreign  born  citizens  of  South  Dakota, 
the  nationalities  most  largely  represented  are  the 
Scandinavians,  who  according  to  the  last  census  num- 
bered 31,373,  and  the  Germans  and  German  Russians, 
of  whom  there  were  33,561.  Of  the  native  born  inhab- 
itants, about  80,000  were  born  of  foreig-n  parents.  Of 
this  number  fully  one-third  are  of  German  descent. 

Among-  the  Baptists  of  other  nationalities,  the  Scan- 
dinavians were  the  first  to  organize  a  church,  as  in  the 
case  of  the  Swedish  Baptist  church  established  at  Big- 
Spring-s  early  in  July,  1869.  Among  the  early  German 
settlers  in  Dakota  were  some  German  Baptists,  scat- 
tered here  and  there  in  the  new  colonies.  Being-  unable 
to  speak  or  understand  the  English  language,  compara- 
tively few  of  them  united  with  American  Baptist 
churches.  In  order  to  minister  to  their  spiritual  needs, 
and  to  evangelize  others.  Rev.  J.  Wendt  came  from 
Ministrita,  Minnesota,  in  1875.  He  found  several  Ger- 
man Baptists  in  a  German  settlement  at  Emanuel 
Creek,  near  Tyndall.  His  appearance  among  them  was 
hailed  with  great  satisfaction.  Many  meetings  were 
held,  and  the  people  were  greatly  interested  and  ben- 
efited. Some  of  them  went  thirty  miles  and  more,  with 
ox  teams,  to  hear  the  gospel  preached  in  their  own  lan- 
guage. A  number  of  persons  were  converted.  As  a 
result  of  this  movement  the  first  German  Baptist 
church  in  Dakota  was  organized  at  Emanuel  Creek, 
April  26,  1876. 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OP  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  187 

Early  in  1877,  a  colony  of  German-Russians  came  to 
Yankton  county.  A  Baptist  church  was  organized  and 
a  chapel  was  built.  In  a  year  or  two  most  of  these 
people  removed  to  Bon  Homme  and  Hutchinson  coun- 
ties, and  the  identity  of  the  church  was  lost.  Some 
German  Baptists  having-  settled  at  Big-  Stone  City,  in 
the  northeastern  portion  of  the  state,  a  church  was 
organized  there,  May  9,  1880,  under  the  leadership  of 
Rev.  J.  Engler.  Rev.  J.  D.  Menger  succeeded  him  as 
pastor  in  1881.  In  1881  and  1882  Rev.  F.  Reichle  and 
Rev.  J.  Croeni  came  as  missionaries  to  several  of  the 
southern  counties,  and  labored,  especially  at  Yankton, 
Scotland,  Bridgewater  and  Plum  Creek.  They  at  first 
established  mission  stations  at  these  places,  since  the 
number  available  as  members  at  each  station  was  not 
large  enough  to  organize  churches.  The  station  at 
Plum  Creek  was  organized  into  a  church,  June  9,  1883. 
The  German  church  at  Madison  was  organized  May  1, 
1885,  and  Rev.  W.  Achterberg  became  its  first  pastor. 
After  this  period  the  organization  of  churches  was 
more  rapid.  When  German  Baptists  came  to  establish 
homes  in  German  settlements,  they  promptly  began 
missionary  operations  by  organizing  Sunday  schools, 
and  holding  meetings  in  their  primitive  dwellings  to 
which  all  of  their  neighbors  were  invited. 

Rev.  B.  Matzke  and  Rev.  O.  Olthoff  were  pioneer 
workers  on  several  important  fields.  The  former  or- 
ganized the  churches  at  Eureka,  June  16,  and  Warner, 
July  20,  1886,  and  one  or  two  others  now  located  in 
North  Dakota.  The  latter  labored  in  some  of  the  coun- 
ties further  south,  and  organized  the  following- 
churches:  Emery,  February  28,  1886;  Salem,  Decem- 
ber 4,  1890;  Avon  (formerly  Tyndall),  December  15, 
1890;  and  Lennox,  afterwards  called  Germantown,  and 


188  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

now  known  as  Chancellor,  July  15,  1882.  The  organi- 
zation known  as  the  Yankton  and  Scotland  church  was 
broug-ht  about  throug-h  the  labors  of  Rev.  T.  J. 
Schaefer,  who  was  ordained  at  the  time  of  the  recog-ni- 
tion  services  held  November  22,  1892.  After  a  few 
years  the  church  at  Warner  became  extinct  on  account 
of  crop  failures,  and  the  consequent  removal  of  the 
members  to  other  localities.  The  others  named  have 
become  strong-  churches,  each  having  from  two  to  six 
flourishing'  stations.  This  is  a  common  custom  among- 
German  Baptist  churches. 

After  the  Indian  reservations  were  thrown  open  to 
settlement,  a  number  of  Germans  located  in  and  near 
Fairfax,  Gregory  county,  west  of  the  Missouri  river, 
and  near  the  Nebraska  line.  Rev.  Claus  Regier  was 
sent  there  as  missionary,  and  a  church  was  organized 
at  Fairfax,  June  30,  1894.  Along  the  southern  border 
of  his  field,  across  the  state  line  in  Nebraska,  he  organ- 
ized a  church  at  Napier,  December  14,  1896.  A  house 
of  worship  was  dedicated  there  June  9,  1897.  The 
church  at  Parkston  was  organized  January  13,  1894. 
The  church  at  Eureka  had  grown  to  such  proportions 
that  it  had  twelve  stations  in  McPherson  and  Campbell 
counties,  and  across  the  line  in  North  Dakota.  A  divi- 
sion became  necessary.  The  church  at  Mound  City 
was  organized  December  29,  1897,  and  it  has  charg-e  of 
six  important  stations  in  Campbell  county.  The 
youngest  of  the  German  churches  was  organized  at 
Choteau  Creek,  October  9,  1898. 

The  following  list  gives  the  name,  location,  and  date 
of  organization  of  all  the  German  and  (rerman-Russian 
Baptist  churches  in  South  Dakota: 

Emanuel  Creek,  April  26,  1876. 

Big  Stone  City,  May  9,  1880. 

Plum  Creek,  June  9,  1883. 


KEV.  AUGUST  LIEBia. 


THIRTY  YEAKS  A  MISSIONARY  AMONG  THE 
STUNDISTS  IN  RUSSIA.  SEVERAL  TIMES 
IMPRISONED,     AND      FINALLY      BANlSllED. 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  189 

Madison,  May  1,  1885. 

Emery,  February  24,  1886. 

Eureka,  June  16,  1886. 

Warner,  July  20,  1886. 

Salem,  December  4,  1890. 

Avon,  December  15,  1890. 

Chancellor,  July  15,  1892. 

Yankton  and  Scotland,  November  22,  1892. 

Parkston,  January  13,  1894. 

Fairfax,  June  30,  1894. 

Napier,  November  14,  1896. 

Mound  City,  December  29,  1897. 

Choteau  Creek,  October  9,  1898. 

The  following-  list  gives  the  date  of  the  dedication  of 

most  of  the  houses  of   worship  belong-ing-  to   German 

Baptist  churches,  with  the  estimated  value  of  each.     It 

is  not  complete,  as  several  of   the  churches   have  not 

reported    the    chapels     belong-ing-    to    some    of    their 

stations: 

Plum  Creek    ^  October  17,  1883 $500 

Flumi^reek,  ^  j^^^^^^  ^393 gOQ 

Madison,  November  21,  1886 2,000 

Emanuel  Creek,  May  26,  1889 800 

Eureka,  October  10,  1889 - 1,200 

Big- Stone  City,  July  6,  1890 1,500 

Emery,  June  20,  1891 --.-    1,500 

Tyndall,  July  5,  1891 ...     1,700 

Eng-el,  July  19,  1891 400 

Avon,  November  22,  1891 700 

Menno,  November,  1891 .      800 

Bridgewater,  June  19,  1892  - 2,000 

Scotland,  May  21,  1893 1,000 

Salem,  September  10,  1893 1,625 

Chancellor,  December  23,  1894 . . 1,500 

Napier,  June  9,  1897 800 

Fairfax,  1899 --- 800 


190  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

Prom  the  foreg^oing"  sketch  it  will  be  seen  that  the 
German  Baptists  have  fifteen  church  org-anizations,  all 
established  within  twenty-two  years,  and  nearly  all 
within  the  last  fifteen  years.  During-  these  years  they 
have  built  twenty-two  houses  of  worship  and  seven  par- 
sonag-es.  The  total  valuation  of  church  property  is 
over  $25,000.  The  number  of  Sunday  schools  is  24. 
The  last  reported  membership  is  1,280.  This  is  more 
than  one-fifth  of  the  whole  number  of  Baptists  in  South 
Dakota.  This  is  a  gratifying-  record  of  growth,  and  it 
compares  most  favorably  with  the  rate  of  progress 
made  in  older  eastern  states.  In  Pennsylvania,  where 
missionary  work  among  the  Germans  began  fifty-seven 
years  ago,  they  have  only  twelve  German  Baptist 
churches.  The  growth  in  South  Dakota  has  been 
much  greater  in  only  a  little  more  than  one-third  of  the 
time.  In  1887  these  churches  raised  $1,800  for  mis- 
sionary and  other  benevolent  objects.  The  members 
are  generally  beginners  in  this  new  country,  and  they 
have  had  to  bear  the  burdens  of  poverty. 

The  work  of  establishing  these  churches  and  sup- 
porting them  has  involved  greater  self-sacrifice  than  is 
usually  experienced  in  older  states.  Driving  long  dis- 
tances over  the  open  prairies,  through  the  heat  of  sum- 
mer and  the  cold  of  wifiter,  often  through  blinding 
storms,  and  holding  meetings  in  the  stifling  atmos- 
phere of  a  densely  packed  dwelling  house  or  chapel, 
these  were  among  the  difficulties  to  be  overcome. 
Such  men  as  Wendt,  Reichle,  Croeni,  Menger,  Matzke, 
Olthoff,  Mueller,  Weisle,  Penski,  GoUing,  Regier, 
Schaefer,  and  others,  will  long  be  remembered  as 
faithful  pioneer  workers  among  the  Germans  in  South 
Dakota.  In  the  work  that  has  been  necessary  to  reach 
present  results,  grateful  acknowledgments  are  made  of 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  191 

the  sympathy  and  co-operation  of  their  American 
brethren  in  the  state  convention,  the  assistance  ren- 
dered by  the  state  superintendent  of  missions,  and  the 
aid  received  from  the  American  Baptist  Home  Mission 
Society. 

While  generally  familiar  with  the  work  of  the  Ger- 
man Baptists  of  the  state,  the  writer  has  been  g-reatly 
assisted  in  preparing-  the  foregoing  sketch  by  the 
thoughtful  kindness  of  Rev.  A.  D.  Tilgner,  one  of  the 
representative  German  pastors. 

The  oldest  survivor  of  the  German  pioneer  Baptist 
ministers  yet  remaining  in  South  Dakota,  is  Rev.  O. 
Olthoff,  who  has  kindly  furnished  the  following  outline 
of  work  accomplished  through  his  instrumentality  or 
under  his  observation,  since  1884: 

In  the  year  1884,  when  a  great  many  Ostfriesland 
Germans  from  Iowa  and  other  states  settled  in  South 
Dakota,  I  felt  the  time  had  come  when  South  Dakota 
ought  to  be  conquered  for  Christ.  Accordingly,  in 
April  of  that  year  I  came  with  my  family.  Two  weeks 
previous  tw^o  Baptist  families  had  already  come.  We 
settled  at  Emery,  in  Hanson  county.  About  eleven 
miles  southwest  was  Bridgewater  church,  now  called 
Plum  Creek,  and  Scotland,  now  Immanuel  Creek.  The 
members  of  these  churches  lived  in  a  district  about 
fifty  miles  in  circumference...  My  plan  was  to  work  up 
the  field  north  and  northeast  of  Emery.  The  church 
of  Emery  had  its  membership  scattered  to  within  six- 
teen miles  of  Madison,  so  that  at  present  anyone  going 
from  Madison  in  a  southwesterly  direction  may  travel 
nearly  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles,  and  still  remain 
among  German  Baptists.  In  this  district  we  have  now 
six  churches,  namely,  Madison,  Salem,  Emery,  Plum 
Creek,  Immanuel  Creek  and  Germantown  (or  Chan- 
cellor). At  first  our  number  was  very  small,  the  four 
members  mentioned  at  the  beginning,  and  my  wife  and 
myself.     After  I  had   preached   eleven    months   seven 


192  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

souls  professed  conversion,  and  six  of  these  desired 
baptism.  On  April  5th,  1885,  these  six  were  buried 
with  Christ  by  baptism.  It  was  a  day  of  g-reat  rejoic- 
ing- for  us,  as  it  was  the  ingathering-  of  the  first  fruits 
of  our  labors.  February  24th,  1886,  we  were  organized 
as  a  church,  with  sixteen  members.  The  recog-nition 
services  and  my  ordination  took  place  on  the  same  day. 
Up  to  this  date  we  had  still  been  members  of  the 
church  in  Apling-ton,  la.  The  pastor  of  that  church 
was  Rev.  G.  C.  Eng-lemann,  who  represented  the 
church  on  this  occasion. 

The  church  at  Emery  soon  beg-an  leng-thening-  her 
cords,  and  even  before  we  org-anized  I  had  been  preach- 
ing- in  McCook  and  Turner  counties.  I  received  no 
certain  salary  from  the  members  nor  support  from  the 
Home  Mission  Society.  Still  the  work,  thoug-h  hard  in 
one  sense,  was  a  source  of  joy,  as  the  little  band  of 
memlbers  carried  me,  as  it  were,  on  the  hands  of 
player,  and  did  all  in  their  power  when  help  was 
needed. 

Warring-ton,  now  called  Monroe,  became  the  first  sta- 
tion of  the  Emery  church.  On  December  23d,  1885,  I 
preached  there  for  the  first  time,  and  at  first  the  meet- 
ing-s  were  well  attended.  But  these  people  were  much 
opposed  to  Biblical  baptism,  nevertheless  we  had  the 
pleasure  of  seeing-  seven  follow  Christ  in  baptism,  and 
the  word  of  God  is  g-aining-  ground..  Afterward  we 
succeeded  in  opening  a  Sunday  school.  Since  then 
other  stations  of  the  Emery  church  have  been  opened, 
including  Salem,  Avon  and  Lennox.  I  am  sorry  that 
Monroe  has  not  made  better  progress,  but  hope  it  will 
soon  grow  into  a  church.  Our  brother  E.  E.  Johnson, 
the  first  one  baptized  on  this  field,  rejoices  now  over  the 
souls  who  were  then  awakened  and  have  found  peace, 
and  were  baptized  March  23d,  1893.  It  seems  that 
showers  of  blessings  are  at  hand.  The  members  at 
this  place  are  wide  awake  and  earnestly  praying,  "Thy 
kingdom  come." 

Avon  became  the  second  station  of  the  Emery  church. 
In  1886,  brother  and  sister  Edyard  and  sister  Browen 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  193 

and  myself  made  a  trip  to  Bon  Homme  county,  where 
we  had  some  Baptist  families  who  were  formerly  mem- 
bers of  the  church  at  Apling-ton,  la.  We  found  these 
members  hard  at  work  for  the  Master.  Quite  a  num- 
ber of  children  and  grown  people  met  tog-ether  for 
Sunday  school  and  church  services.  In  November, 
1886,  these  members  were  received  in  the  Emery 
church.  I  found  it  impossible  to  visit  this  station 
oftener  than  every  eight  weeks.  In  the  meantime 
brother  Schoeder  took  charge  of  the  work  until  Febru- 
ary, 1888,  when  he  moved  to  Emery.  His  place  was 
filled  by  brother  W.  Van  Geopen.  Thus  the  Lord 
helped  us  wonderfully,  as  brother  Van  Geopen  had 
helped  me  in  my  work  in  Germany,  also  in  Illinois,  and 
now  in  my  absence  acted  as  substitute.  When  this 
station  numbered  twenty-four  members  they  saw  fit  to 
organize  a  church.  The  organization  and  recognition 
took  place  December  15,  1890.  This  young  church  at 
Avon,  formerly  called  the  German  church  of  Tyndall, 
has  now  sixty-four  members.  When  the  church  saw 
the  necessity  of  building  a  house  of  worship,  there  were 
willing  hearts  and  hands,  and  it  was  built  in  1891.  Our 
chapel  there  cost  about  $1,200.  In  1892  I  was  per- 
mitted to  baptize  eight  converts,  later  on  four  young 
men,  and  others  at  later  periods. 

Salem,  in  McCook  county,  became  the  third  station. 
At  the  organization  of  the  church  at  Emery,  we  made 
the  acquaintance  of  brother  Stark,  delegate  of  the 
American  church  at  Freedom.  Brother  Stark  informed 
us  that  there  were  five  German  sisters  besides  himself 
in  that  district,  and  that  there  were  many  Germans 
who  ought  to  be  looked  after.  He  requested  the  church 
at  Emery  to  give  me  a  week's  leave  of  absence  for  this 
work.  This  was  in  March,  1887.  We  did  some  house 
to  house  visitation,  and  I  preached  twice  on  Sunday, 
and  on  the  following  Monday  and  Tuesday  evenings. 
Wednesday  night  we  had  a  cottage  prayer  meeting  in 
the  house  of  non-members.  The  family  consisted  of 
the  father,  mother  and  two  sons.  The  younger  son 
was  much  opposed  to  conversion,  but  that  same  night 

li 


194  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

he  was  under  deep  conviction  and  soug'ht  and.  found 
peace.  The  other  members  of  that  family  followed, 
and  in  that  nig-ht  this  whole  family  and  four  others  who 
had  met  with  us  found  peace  and  rejoiced  in  the  Lord. 
Six  weeks  later  these  new  converts  came  to  Emery  to 
be  baptized.  On  that  day,  the  29th  of  May,  1887,  the 
church  at  Emery  extended  the  hand  of  fellowship  to 
fourteen  new  members.  Eight  were  received  by  bap- 
tism and  six  by  letter.  This  station  at  Salem  I  could 
only  visit  six  times  in  the  year,  as  my  work  was  g^etting^ 
too  great,  and  extended  over  too  larg*e  a  field.  On 
December  4,  1890,  this  station  also  org-anized  and  was 
recognized  as  a  church,  with  a  membership  of  twenty- 
four.  As  there  was  no  one  found  to  take  charge  of  this 
field,  it  was  still  supplied  from  Emery.  In  September, 
1891,  Rev.  E.  Wolf  took  charge  of  the  work.  The 
church  then  numbered  twenty-nine.  Rev.  A.  Mar- 
quardt  became  his  successor.  The  church  now  has  no 
pastor. 

Lennox  became  the  fourth  station.  In  1889  eighteen 
persons  around  Lennox  applied  for  membership  in  the 
Emery  church.  As  the  whole  community  is  composed 
of  people  from  Ostfriesland,  Germany,  it  was  thought 
best  that  the  church  take  up  this  field,  as  the  writer  is 
himself  an  Ostfreisian.  My  church  allowed  me  one 
Sunday  per  month  for  this  work.  In  1892  this  station 
also  organized  as  a  church,  and  the  recognition  took 
place  July  15,  1882,  with  twenty-eight  members.  I  was 
permitted  afterwards  to  baptize  other  new  converts. 
Others  are  near  the  Kingdom.  It  is  a  time  of  refresh- 
ing for  the  church  in  Lennox,  afterwards  called  Ger- 
mantown,  and  now  Chancellor.  Another  Sunday  school 
has  been  started  near  Lennox.  We  have  four  stations 
where  we  have  preaching  on  Sunday,  but  the  main 
station  is  best  attended  by  strangers. 

My  health  was  very  poor  for  a  whole  year,  and  the 
work  of  supplying  Emery  and  stations  at  Monroe,  Avon 
and  Lennox  became  too  much  for  me,  and  I  requested 
the  church  at  Emery  to  get  another  pastor,  promising 
to  help  until  someone  should  be  found.  Brother  A.  P. 
I5rauns  assisted  me  three  months,  from  September  to 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  195 

December,  1892.  During  this  time  my  health  beg^an  to 
improve,  and  the  church  at  Lennox  g-ave  me  a  call  as 
their  pastor  alone,  but  Avon  insisted  that  I  remain  their 
pastor  also,  so  I  continued  for  a  time  to  supply  these 
two  churches.  Emery  is  a  thriving-  town  with  a  thrifty 
German  population.  The  church  has  a  house  of  wor- 
ship 26x40  feet,  which  is  well  filled  every  Sunday. 

To  the  Lord  be  the  g'lory  for  the  blessing-s  He  has 
bestowed  upon  us  in  the  past  years.  From  the  small 
beg-inning-  of  my  report,  four  churches  have  sprung-  up 
and  other  stations,  which  justify  us  in  looking-  hope- 
fully to  the  future. 

As  has  been  stated  the  number  of  German  and  Rus- 
sian Baptist  churches  in  South  Dakota  is  fifteen.  The 
number  would  be  larg-er  if  American  plans  of  organiza- 
tion were  adopted.  Each  church  has  its  central  head- 
quarters, with  several  outlying-  stations,  varying-  from 
two  or  three  to  six  or  more  in  number.  At  one  time 
the  Eureka  church  had  twelve  different  stations.  The 
number  of  members  at  these  stations  is  often  larg-e,  but 
they  are  usually  held  as  stations  or  branches  of  the 
parent  church,  until  they  are  strong-  enoug-h  to  be  self- 
supporting,  when  they  are  urg-ed  to  org-anize  as  sep- 
arate churches.  At  some  of  these  stations  chapels 
have  been  built,  and  the  result  is  that  in  some  cases 
each  church  has  at  least  two  or  three  houses  of  wor- 
ship. The  parental  oversig-ht  of  the  mother  church  is 
such  that  some  of  the  new  churches,  when  org-anized, 
have  their  relig-ious  home  already  prepared  for  them. 
Another  result  of  this  policy  is  that  only  a  small  per- 
centag-e  of  German  Baptist  churches  ask  for  or  receive 
assistance  from  the  American  Baptist  Home  Mission 
Society,  in  the  support  of  their  pastors.  If  any  assist- 
ance is  needed,  it  is  more  frequently  a  g-ift  or  a  loan 
from  the  church  edifice  fund,  to  aid  in  building-  houses 
of  worship. 


106  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

The  following-  list  g'ives  the  names  of  most  of  the 
stations  maintained  by  each  church.  Beside  the  house 
of  worship  owned  by  the  parent  church,  each  station 
marked  ('^)  has  a  chapel: 

Emanuel  Creek. — Tyndall",  Danzig--. 

Big  Stone  City. — Hollo  way",  Minn. 

Plum  Creek.— Bridg-ewater",  Menno'"',  Alexandria""". 

Madison. — Parnsworth,  Holland,  Wentworth,  Ro- 
mona. 

Emery. — Monroe,  and  three  other  stations. 

Eureka.— Spring-  Creek""',  Dolzer,  Stein,  Martel, 
Long-  Lake. 

Salem.— Canova. 

Chancellor. — Lennox,  and  two  other  stations.' 

Choteau  Creek.— Pour  or  five  stations. 

Parkston. — Priedensthar^',  Dry  Creek""",  Schulz, 
Tripp. 

Pairfax. — Kaul,  Wetzal. 

Mound  City. — Pilg-erheim"^,  Kramlich,  Matthews, 
Bender,  Weisenburg-er. 

More  than  one-third  of  the  German  speaking-  citizens 
of  this  state  came  from  Russia.  Nearly  all  of  them  are 
the  descendants  of  the  south  German  people,  who,  sev- 
eral g-enerations  ag-o,  during-  the  reig-n  of  the  Empress 
Catherine,  were  encourag-ed  to  settle  in  southern  Rus- 
sia. They  were  needed  there  because  they  were  fam- 
iliar with  many  of  the  arts  of  which  the  Russian  peas- 
ants were  ig-norant.  As  they  helped  to  develope  the 
resources  and  revenue  of  the  empire,  their  intense 
relig-ious  convictions,  and  simple  Christian  manner  of 
living-,  which  were  so  different  from  the  cold  formalism 
of  the  established  state  relig-ion,  the  Greek  church, 
were  at  first  overlooked,  but  later  Russian  rulers  per- 
secuted them  without  mercy.     They  carried  with  them 


KEV.  O.  OLTHOFF. 

1SS4-.899. 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OP  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  197 

from  Germany  their  relig'ion,  and  their  only  rule  of 
faith  and  practice,  the  Bible.  They  were  active  in 
their  efforts  to  spread  the  Christian  faith  among-  their 
Russian  neighbors.  They  met  for  prayer  and  confer- 
ence at  stated  times  and  places,  called  sfioidor,  hence 
the  name  which  soon  came  to  be  applied  to  them.  Stun- 
d?sts.  The  lowest  estimate  of  the  number  of  Stundists 
now  in  Russia  is  250,000.  A  large  proportion  of  these 
are  Baptists.  They  are  intensely  in  earnest  in  holding- 
and  disseminating  their  relig-ious  opinions.  They  are 
so  far  in  advance  of  the  unthinking-  and  ig-norant  native 
Russian  serf,  that  their  superiority  in  belief  and  life 
long-  ag-o  aroused  the  bitter  hatred  of  the  authorities  of 
the  state  church.  The  relentless  persecution  of  these 
people  has  called  out  the  sympathy  of  Christian  people 
in  Kurope  and  America. 

It  is  not.  surprising-  that  thousands  of  Stundists  have 
fled  from  oppression  in  Russia  to  the  enjoyment  of 
relig"ious  freedom  in  the  United  States.  Many  of  them 
are  in  South  Dakota.  A  larg-e  number  of  these  are  in 
Russian  or  German-Russian  Baptist  churches.  During 
all  of  the  g-eneration^  of  their  sojourn  in  Russia,  they 
retained  the  knowledg-e  and  use  of  the  lang-uag-e  of  their 
fatherland.  Relig-ious  services  conducted  in  the  Ger- 
man languag-e-  are  therefore  understood,  not  only  by 
the  Germans,  but  also  by  their  German-Russian  breth- 
ren. On  numerous  occasions  the  author  has  had  oppor- 
tunities to  study  the  relig-ious  life  and  devotion  of  these 
g'odly  people.  While  no  long-er  compelled  to  worship 
God  in  secret,  at  the  risk  of  imprisonment,  they  still 
maintain  their  long--accustomed  simplicity  of  living-  and 
intense  relig-ious  devotion.  In  Russia  all  attempts  to 
break  their  spirit  and  compel  them  to  renounce  their 
faith  were  in  vain,  and  here  "there  are  none  to  molest 
or  make  them  afraid." 


198  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

One  of  their  pastors,  Rev.  August  Liebig-,  was  for 
many  years  a  missionary  among-  the  Stundists  of  Rus- 
sia. He  was  remarkably  successful,  thoug-h  he  endured 
innumerable  hardships,  was  several  times  imprisoned, 
and  was  finally  banished  from  Russia.  Soon  after  his 
coming-  to  America,  and  his  settlement  in  South  Dakota, 
the  writer  was  invited  to  join  with  him  in  the  services 
at  the  dedication  of  one  of  their  houses  of  worship.  An 
immense  cong-reg-ation  assembled,  many  more  than 
could  find  even  room  to  stand  in  the  building-.  Many 
of  them  drove  with  their  families  from  thirty  to  fifty 
miles  across  the  prairies,  to  once  more  see  and  hear 
this  faithful  servant  of  God.  It  was  throug-h  his 
instrumentality  that  they  were  converted  and  baptized, 
from  ten  to  twenty  years  before,  in  Russia,  the  meet- 
ing's being-  held  secretly,  in  out-of-the-way  dwelling-.s, 
and  the  baptisms  administered  in  retired  places  in  the 
darkness  of  the  nig-ht,  to  avoid  being-  interrupted,  or 
put  in  prison,  by  the  relentless  officials  of  a  cruel  des- 
potism. It  was  interesting-  to  study  the  faces  of  these 
people  as  they  once  more  heard  the  voice  of  their 
former  leader,  and  were  contrasting-  their  chang-ed 
condition  from  relig-ious  intolerance  to  relig-ious  liberty. 

An  intellig-ent  and  commendable  zeal  characterizes 
the  work  among-  the  Germans  and  Russians  of  the 
state.  They  are  making-  encourag-ing-  prog-ress.  They 
are  very. particular  in  the  reception  of  new  members, 
watchful  in  oversig-ht,  and  strict  in  discipline,  yet 
they  increase  relatively  more  rapidly  than  American 
churches.  The  most  cordial  relations  exist  between 
them  and  their  American  brethren.  The  last  reported 
membership  in  their  churches  is  twelve  hundred  and 
eig-hty. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


ASSOCIATIONS. 


SOUTHERN  DAKOTA  ASSOCIATION. 

The  first  Baptist  house  of  worship  in  Dakota  Terri- 
tory was  dedicated  at  Vermillion,  June  4,  1872.  On  the 
following-  day  the  first  Baptist  association  was  org-an- 
ized,  by  pastors  and  delegates  from  nine  churches,  com- 
prising- all  of  the  Baptist  churches  in  the  territory.  Of 
these  churches  six  were  American — Vermillion,  Elk 
Point,  Yankton,  Leroy,  Lodi,  and  Canton;  two  were 
Swedish — Big-  Springs  and  Bloomingdale;  and  one 
Danish — Lodi.  With  the  exception  of  Chaplain  G.  D. 
Crocker,  at  Port  Sully,  all  of  the  Baptist  ministers  in 
the  territory  were  present:  Revs.  G.  W.  Freeman, 
E.  H.  Hurfbutt,  J.  J.  Mclntire,  J.  H.  Young,  J.  L. 
Coppoc,  P.  A.  Ring,  and  J.  Peterson.  The  last  two 
were  Swedes.  The  total  membership  of  these  nine 
churches  was  one  hundred  and  fifty-seven. 

The  following  officers  were  elected:  moderator.  Rev. 
G.  W.  Freeman,  general  missionary;  secretary,  Martin 
J.  Lewis,  Vermillion;  treasurer.  Deacon  M.  D.  Weston, 
Elk  Point;  corresponding  secretary.  Rev.  E.  H.  Hurl- 
butt,  Vermillion.  The  constitution  adopted  was  broad 
and  comprehensive.  Though  a  little  band,  in  a  new 
country,  the  organization  put  itself  on  record  as  favor- 
ing heartilyall  of  the  benevolent  objects  of  thedenomina- 
tion,  and  pledging  to  them  active  sympathy  and  financial 


200  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OP  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

support.  In  that  day  of  small  thing's,  the  need  of  lay- 
ing* the  foundation  for  Christian  education  was  care- 
fully considered.  The  committee  on  education,  of 
which  Rev.  J.  J.  Mclntire  was  chairman,  presented  a 
report  which  was  adopted,  urg-ing-  the  importance  of 
taking-  immediate  steps  for  the  establishing-  of  an 
institution  of  learning*.  During*  the  first  few  years  the 
needs  of  the  g-reat  field,  g-radually  opening-,  received 
earnest  consideration,  and  at  the  annual  meeting-  in 
1877,  it  was  decided,  as  an  association,  to  aid  at  least 
one  charch  each  year,  in  the  building-  of  a  house  of  wor- 
ship. At  this  anniversary  g-rateful  recog-nition  is  g-iven 
of  the  org-aniz;ation  of  woman's  mission  circles,  which 
were  beg-inning-  to  prove  a  helpful  ally  in  the  prosecu- 
tion of  m,issionary  work. 

In  1880,  the  committee  on  obituaries  record  the 
death,  at  Goodwin,  of  Rev.  L.  Ross,  ag-ed  sixty-nine 
years.  He  had  been  for  many  years  a  pastor  in  Minne- 
sota and  but  a  little  while  before  his  death  he  came 
to  Dakota,  in  poor  health,  for  a  home  among-  his  chil- 
dren. This  is  the  first  mentioned  death  among-  the 
Baptist  ministry  in  the  territory.  The  appeals,  sev- 
eral times  repeated,  for  the  appointment  of  a  Sunday 
school  missionary  and  colporteur  are  now  answered  by 
the  appointment  of  Mr.  Geo.  T.  Johnson.  In  view  of 
the.  immense  field[~now  covered  by  the  association,  a 
division  was  considered  and  approved. 

When  the  association  was  org-anized  in  1872,  the  nine 
churches  then  existing-  were  mainly  in  or  near  the 
valley  of  the  Missouri  river.  Ten  years  later  the  num- 
ber of  churches  belong-ing-  to  the  association  had  in- 
creased to  twenty-two,  including-  Watertown  and  Good- 
win, extending-  north  nearly  two  hundred  miles.  Sev- 
eral new  churches^were  so  far  distant  that  they  were 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  201 

still  unassociated.  The  total  reported  membership  of 
the  association  was  679.  The  time  had  come  for  a 
division.  The  association,  in  1881,  recommended  such 
action,  and  proposed  that  a  line  drawn  due  west  to  the 
Missouri  river,  beg^inning"  with  the  north  boundary  of 
the  second  tier  of  townships  in  Minnehaha  county,  be 
the  dividing-  line  between  the  southern  Dakota  associa- 
tion, and  the  proposed  new  association.  Another 
matter  of  importance  at  this  annual  meeting-  was  the 
appointment  of  a'  committee  of  eleven  brethren,  to 
confer  with  a  similar  committee,  appointed  at  a  Baptist 
camp  meeting-,  and  preliminary  org-anization  of  a  state 
convention,  held  at  Lake  Madison  in  July,  1881. 

At  the  first  meeting-  of  the  Southern  Dakota  Associa- 
tion, following-  the  division  in  1882,  the  number  of 
churches  belong-ing-  to  it  was  fifteen,  with  a  membership 
of  601.  With  the  addition  of  new  churches  and 
increase  in  membership,  it  g-rew  until  it  had,  in  1893, 
twenty-three  churches  and  1,112  members.  During- 
that  year  a  re-construction  of  all  the  associations  was 
made  and  five  new  ones  were  formed.  This  org-aniza- 
tion, which  still  retains  its  old  name,  was  then  reduced 
to  twelve  churches  and  798  members.  Since  1893,  it 
has  had  only  one  addition  to  its  churches,  but  its  mem- 
bership has  increased  to  1,098.  The  twenty-fifth  anni- 
versary of  the  orig-inal  org-anization  was  held  at  Ver- 
million in  June,  1896.  It  was  an  occasion  of  unusual 
interest.  At  the  historical  session  historical  addresses 
were  delivered  by  Rev.  J.  E.  Rockwood,  who  org-anized 
the  Vermillion  church,  February  16,  1868;  Rev.  J.  J. 
Mclntire,  Rev.  T.  M.  Shanafelt,  Rev.  R.  N.  Van  Doren, 
and  others,  and  a  history  of  the  association  was  pre- 
sented by  Rev.  T.  M.  Coffey. 


202  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

SIOUX  VALLEY  ASSOCIATION. 

By  previous  arrang-ement  a  meeting-  of  pastors  and 
other  deleg-ates,  representing- sixteen  churches,  most  of 
them  new  org-anizations,  was  held  at  Brooking-s,  June 
9-11,  1882,  for  the  purpose  of  forming-  a  new  association. 
Rev.  Edward  Ellis  led  in  the  work  of  org-anization.  It 
was  called  the  Sioux  Valley  Baptist  Association.  Its 
first  officers  were  Rev.  Walter  Ross,  moderator,  and 
Rev..F.  H.  Newton,  secretary.  Its  membership  at  the 
beg-inning-  w^as  275.  It  occupied  an  immense  field, 
reaching-  Bouth  as  far  as  Madison  and  Dell  Rapids, 
westward  -to  Huron,  and  included  all  the  territory 
north.  It  was  a  most  important  missionary  field,  and 
the  association  did  not  neg-lect  its  mission.  New 
churches  Avere  added  to  it,  and  most  of  the  churches 
comprising-  it  g-rew,  until  in  ten  years  from  its  org-ani- 
zation, it  had  on  its  roll  twenty-three  churches,  with 
1,017  members.  It  continued  to  exist  under  its  orig-i- 
nal  name,  until  the  g-eneral  re-org-anization  of  associa- 
tions in  1893. 

JAMES  RIVER  ASSOCIATION. 

Almost  immediately  after  the  organization  of  the 
Sioux  Valley  Association,  in  1882,  it  became  evident 
that  another  association  must  soon  be  formed  further 
north.  Among-  its  constituent  churches  were  Baptist 
churches  as  far  north  as  Aberdeen,  Ordway,  and  Big- 
Stone  City.  Other  churches  soon  came  into  being-  in 
the  northern  counties,  and  some  of  the  counties  near 
the  Missouri  river.  With  the  hearty  approval  of  the 
Sioux  Valley  association,  and  its  benediction  on  some 
of  the  northern  churches  that  were  dismissed,  under 
the  leadership  of  g-eneral  missionary  Ellis,  an  associa- 
tion was  org-anized  October  10-11,  1884,  at  Columbia,  in 
connection  with  the  dedication  services  of  the  Columbia 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OP  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  203 

Baptist  church.  A  constitution  was  adopted,  commit- 
tees were  appointed,  and  the  following",  officers  were 
elected:  Moderator,  Rev.  C.  H.  Woods,  Columbia; 
secretary,  Rev.  E.  M.  Bliss,  Aberdeen;  treasurer, 
Deacon  Wm.  P.  Brown,  Ellendale.  Five  churches  only 
were  represented  in  this  org'anization.  Their  member- 
ship was  not  reported.  Insufficient  notice  had  been 
given  of  the  proposed  meeting*,  and  the  movement  was 
not  a  success.  The  Columbia  church  soon  after  became 
extinct,  and  its  excellent  house  of  worship  was  secured 
by  another  denomination. 

The  organization  beg-un  at  Columbia  in  October,  1884, 
adopted  as  its  name  the  James  River  Baptist  Associa- 
tion. It  soon  went  into  a  state  of  suspended  animation. 
Efforts  to  arouse  it  failed  until  January  1-2,  1886. 
Through  the  active  efforts  of  Rev.  P.  M.  Horning  and 
others,  some  of  the  churches  were  led  to  send  delegates 
to  Aberdeen,  at  the  time  of  the  dedication  of  the  new 
Baptist  house  of  worship  in  that  city.  Fourteen 
churches  were  represented  by  delegates  or  letters. 
Their  total  membership  was  291.  The  following  officers 
were  elected:  Moderator,  Rev.  C.  C.  Marston,  Beulah; 
secretary.  Rev.  P.  M.  Horning',  Blunt;  treasurer.  Dr. 
O.  M.  Heustis,  Aberdeen.  .  Sermons. were  preached, 
several  addresses  were  delivered,  some  good  resolutions 
were  adopted,  and  the  association  adjourned,  to  meet 
at  Ellendale,  June  15,  1886.  No  meeting-  was  held.  The 
association  was  dead. 

After  the  resignation  of  Rev.  Edward  Ellis  there 
was  no  one  to  take  the  g-eneral  oversig-ht  of  missionary 
work  for  nearly  four  years,  until  the  present  state 
superintendent  of  missions  came  to  South  Dakota, 
early  in  1888.  Some  of  the  pastors  took  a  fostering- 
care    of    neighboring    pastorless  *  churches,    but     on 


204  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

account  of  necessary  financial  retrenchment  there 
were  fewer  laborers  on  the  field,  and  many  were  dis- 
courag^ed.  He  endeavored  to  pick  up  the  lines  of  work 
over  the  entire  field.  On  investig'ating-  the  condition  of 
thing-s  in  the  northern  part  of  South  Dakota,  he  found 
only  two  or  three  pastors,  and  several  weak  churches 
without  leaders.  There  was  a  memory  of  an  associ- 
ation that  had  once  existed,  but  the  churches  and  pas- 
tors knew  little  or  nothing*  of  each  other.  He  made 
arrang-ements  for  the  churches,  including-  four  or  five 
new  ones,  to  send  delegates  to  a  meeting  held  at  Aber- 
deen, September  5-6,  1888.  The  meeting*  was  well 
attended,  new  interest  was  awakened,  the  old  name 
was  resumed,  and  on  the  recommendation  of  the  super- 
intendent of  missions,  instead  of  a  new  association,  it 
was  agreed  to  reg*ard  it  as  a  resurrection  and  continu- 
atioa  of  the  old  organization.  Ten  churches  were  rep- 
resented, with  a  membership  of  276.  The  association 
continued  a  vigforous  existence,  with  interesting  and 
profitable  annual  meeting-s,  until  the  g-eneral  reorg-ani- 
zation  of  the  associations  of  the  state  in  1893.  At  that 
time  it  included  fourteen  churches,  with  394  members. 

GERMAN     ASSOCIATION. 

An  association  representing-  the  people  of  any  special 
race  or  lang-uage  cannot  be  org-anized  along  geog-raph- 
ical  lines.  The  first  few  churches  among  the  Germans 
and  German-Russians  of  Dakota  were  scattered  over 
the  territory.  They  were  too  far  apart  to  successfully 
maintain  an  association.  Occasionally  some  would  be 
identified,  temporarily,  with  one  or  more  of  the  Amer- 
ican associations.  After  1884  the  number  of  churches 
among-  these  people  increased  more  rapidly,  and  a  Ger- 
man Baptist  association — or  conference,  as  they  term 
it — was  organized  June  17,  1887,  at  Plum  Creek,  near 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  205 

Bridg-e water.  For  several  years  it  included  all  the 
German  and  Russian  Baptist  churches  in  both  South 
Dakota  and  North  Dakota.  Since  1894  the  association 
includes  only  their  churches  in  South  Dakota.  Their 
annual  meetings  are  always  largely  attended,  full  of 
enthusiasm,  intensely  devotional  and  spiritual,  and 
continue  three  and  four  days,  or  even  longfer.  All 
lines  of  business  are  carefully  attended  to,  but  devo- 
tional meeting-s  and  preaching-  services  are  numerous. 
In  connection  with  the  annual  meeting's  of  their  associ- 
ation a  pastor's  conference  is  usually  held.  They  also 
hold  semi-annual  meeting's.  They  now  have  fifteen 
churches,  with  a  membership  of  twelve  hundred  and 
eig-hty. 

SCANDINAVIAN     ASSOCIATION. 

At  the  org-anization  of  the  Southern  Dakota  Associ- 
ation in  1872,  three  of  the  nine  churches  composing-  it 
were  Scandinavian.  As  Scandinavian  churches  were 
org-anized  in  later  years,  they  identified  themselves 
with  this  association,  and  some  of  them,  after  1882, 
with  the  Sioux  Valley  Association.  In  1874  the  Scan- 
dinavian Baptists  org-anized  a  missionary  conference. 
It  was  not  intended  at  first  to  serve  as  an  association, 
but  a  meeting"  for  conference  on  missionary  and  other 
topics,  where  there  was  the  larg-er  freedom  of  speak- 
ing" in  their  own  language.  As  a  matter  of  informa- 
tion their  statistics  were  reported  annually  at  these 
conferences,  but  for  ten  or  twelve  years  they  continued 
as  members  of  the  associations  named.  As  the  num- 
ber of  churches  increased,  the  need  of  a  separate  org-an- 
ization led  them  to  withdraw,  and  after  1886  the  crigfi- 
nal  missionary  conference,  org-anized  in  1874,  became 
the  Scandinavian  Baptist  Association  of  South  Dakota. 

This  org-anization  is  a  tower  of  streng-th  for  the  Bap- 


206  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

tist  cause  in  this  state.  For  many  years  it  has  fur- 
nished one-half  or  more  of  the  support  of  its  state 
missionary.  The  large  annual  contributions  fqr  all 
benevolent  objects  indicate  the  deep  and  increasing- 
interest  of  the  churches  in  missions,  christian  educa- 
tion, and  all  departments  of  relig-ious  work.  In  the 
association  are  nineteen  churches,  with  eig-ht  hundred 
and  ninety-seven  members. 

BLACK  HILLS  ASSOCIATION. 

This  association  was  org-anized  by  the  state  superin- 
tendent of  missions,  at  Rapid  City,  September  12,  1890. 
At  its  organization  it  included  the  Baptist  churthes  at 
Deadwood,  Rapid  City,  Lead  City,  Hot  Springs,  Custer 
City,  and  Hill  City;  also  the  church  at  Sundance, 
Wyoming.  The  churches  at  Beaver  Basin  and  Oel- 
rich  were  received  into  the  association  in  1893..  The 
last  reported  membership  was  three  hundred  and 
eighty-three. 

FIVE  NEW  ASSOCIATIONS  ORGANIZED. 

By  reason  of  the  annual  addition  of  new  churches, 
the  territory  of  the  Southern  Dakota,  Sioux  Valley  and 
James  River  Associations  became  too  large  to  promote 
the  interests  and  serve  the  needs  of  the  churches  com- 
posing them.  The  Southern  Dakota  Association 
extended  from  Elk  Point  and  Akron  on  the  Sioux 
river,  to  Chamberlain,  on  the  Missouri  river,  a 
distance  of  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  miles.  The 
James  River  Association,  in  its  greatest  length  reached 
from  Pierre  to  Pierpont,  in  Day  county,  a  distance  of 
two  hundred  and  forty  miles.  The  Sioux  Valley  Asso- 
ciation was  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  long  and  about 
one  hundred  miles  wide.  It  had  become  impossible  for 
most  of  the  weaker  churches  to  be  represented  by  dele- 
gates,  unless  all  of  the  annual  meetings  were  held  at 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  207 

some  central  point.  The  formation  of  a  larg-er  number 
of  associations,  g-eog-raphically  smaller,  became  a 
necessity. 

On  the  recommendation  of  the  state  superintendent 
of  missions,  the  three  associations  above 'mentioned,  at 
their  annual  meeting-s  in  1891,  appointed  a  joint  com- 
mittee to  carefully  consider  the  situation,  and  recom- 
mend such  action  as  they  should  deem  wise  and  neces- 
sary. While  waiting'  for  the  devolopment  of  some 
projected  lines  of  railroad,  in  1892,  it  was  thoug-ht 
advisable  to  delay  making-  any  recommendations  for 
definite  action  until  the  following-  year.  At  the  annual 
meetings  held  in  June,  1893,  the  joint  committee 
reported  that  in  their  judg-ment  there  should  be  five 
associations  organized,  that  each  one  should  cover  a 
considerably  smaller  area  than  any  of  the  three  hitherto 
existing-,  and  that  they  should  be  formed  with  reference 
to  present  and  prospective  lines  of  railroad,  in  order  to 
make  attendance  at  the  annual  meeting's  as  easy  and 
inexpensive  as  possible.  Beg-inning-  with  the  southern 
portion  of  the  state,  where  our  denomination  in  South 
Dakota  had  its  orig-in,  they  recommended  the  formation 
of  the  following-  named  associations  the  area  of  each  to 
be  the  counties  named  under  its  heading-: 

Southern  Dakota  ^  Association. —  Union,  Clay, 
Yankton,  Bon  Homme,  Charles  Mix,  Doug-las,  Hutch- 
inson, Turner  and  Lincoln. 

Sioux  Padls  Association. — Minnehaha,  McCook, 
Hanson,  Davison,  Aurora,  Brule,  Buffalo,  Jerauld, 
Sanborn,  Miner,  Lake  and  Moody. 

Central  Association. — King-sbury,  Beadle,  Hand, 
Hyde,  Hug-hes  and  Sully. 

Northeastern  Association. — Brooking-s,  Deuel, 
Hamlin,  Clark,  Coding-ton,  Grant  and  Roberts. 


208  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

Northwestern  Association. — Marshall,  Day, 
Brown,  Spink,  Paulk,  Potter,  Edmunds,  McPherson, 
Walworth  and  Campbell. 

In  the  foreg^oing-  arrang'ement  as  to  new  associations, 
the  churches,  including*  some  new  ones  added  since, 
according-  to  their  location  were  naturally  grouped 
tog-ether  as  follows : 

Southern  Dakota  Association. — Akron,  Armour, 
Beresford,  Blooming-dale  (now  Spirit  Mound),  Canton, 
Centerville,  Delmont,  Elk  Point,  Hurley,  Lincoln, 
Parker,  Parkston  and  Vermillion. — 13 

Sioux  Palls  Association. — Beaver,  Beulah,  Blen- 
don.  Chamberlain,  Dell  Rapids,  Eg-ari,  Plandreau, 
Kimball,  Madison,  Mitchell,  Montrose,  Plankinton, 
Salem,  Sioux  Palls,  Spencer,  Woonsocket  and  Zion. — 17 

Central  Association.— ^Arling-ton,  DeSmet,  Het- 
land,  Huron,  Lake  Preston,  Onida,  Pierre  and  Old- 
ham.— 8 

Northeastern  Association.— Bradley,  Brooking-s, 
Bruce,  Bryant,  Bushnell,  Clark,  Effington,  Elkton, 
Estelline,  Goodwin,  Troy,  Watertown,  Windom  and 
White  Rock.— 14 

Northwestern  Association. — Aberdeen,  Conde, 
Paulkton,  Gem,  Gettysburg-,  Groton,  Hecla,  Hig-hland, 
Huffton,  Ipswich,  Pierpont,  Rose,  Verdon,  Warner 
and  Washing-ton. — 15 

The  report  of  the  committee,  which  was  not  author- 
itative but  advisory,  was  heartily  adopted.  The 
churches,  without  a  sing-le  exception,  endorsed  the 
recommendations  made.  To  avoid  the  overlapping-  of 
dates,  a  schedule  of  dates  for  the  annual  meeting's  was 
submitted  and  approved.  The  committee  recom- 
mended a  form  of  constitution  and  by-laws  which  was 
adopted   by   each   association.      This    served   to   unify 


^FIRST    BAPTIST    CHURCH,    DELL    RAPIDS. 

CHURCH    OKGANIZED  JULY    21,    1872. 

FIKST    HOUSE   OF    WORSHIP   DEDICATED  JULY    18,    iSSo. 

PRKSENT    HOUSE   OK    WORSHIP    DRDICATED  JUNE  8,    1SS7. 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  209 

plans  of  work  throug-hout  the  state,  and  has  resulted 
in  saving-  annually  considerable  expense  in  the  printing- 
of  the  minutes  of  the  various  associations  in  the  State 
Convention  Annual.  The  annual  meeting-s  of  the  old 
associations  were  held,  as  usual,  in  1893,  at  which  time 
the  churches  that  were  to  form  the  new  associations, 
throug-h  their  deleg-ates  and  members  present,  held 
one  or  more  sessions  for  the  formal  ratification  of  the 
contemplated  org-anizations,  adopted  the  proposed  con- 
stitution and  by-laws,  elected  officers  for  the  ensuing- 
year,  appointed  the  necessary  standing-  committees, 
and  selected  the  place  and  preacher  for  the  annual 
meeting-s  to  be  held  in  1894.  The  composition  of  the 
Scandinavian  and  German  Associations  is  not  affected 
by  g-eog-raphical  boundaries,  except  so  far  as  they  are 
included  within  the  state,  but  is  reg-ulated  by  the 
question  of  race  and  lang-uag-e.  They  were  therefore 
not  included  in  the  foregoing-  plan.  Neither  was  the 
Black  Hills  Association,  which  being-  isolated  from  the 
eastern  half  of  the  state,  through  lack  of  railroad  con- 
nection, has  a  field  of  operations  exclusively  its  own. 

In  order  that  those  who  shall  read  this  history  in  the 
coming-  years  may  be  able  to  trace  the  statistical  pro- 
gress of  our  own  denomination  from  the  beg-inning-, 
and  from  the  records  of  the  present  have  a  starting- 
point  from  which  to  beg-in  their  study  of  future  g-rowth, 
there  will  be  found  at  the  end  of  this  volume  statistical 
tables  g-iving-  the  associational  summaries,  membership 
and  financial — for  1898;  the  tables  of  anniversaries  of 
the  state  convention  and  the  associations,  and  also  of 
former  associations  to  1893,  when  they  passed  out  of 
sight,  giving  way  to  associations  now  in  existence. 


CHAPTER  XX. 


SOUTH    DAKOTA    BAPTIST    CONVENTION. 

The  association  is  an  important  factor  in  rendering- 
assistance  to  weak  and  strug-g-ling-  churches,  and  pro- 
moting- Christian  fellowship  and  brotherly  love.  The 
state  convention,  on  a  larg-er  scale,  unifies  the  work, 
and  in  the  consideration  of  the  important  questions  of 
missions,  education,  and  church  extension,  encourag-es 
and  stimulates  each  local  worker  to  a  larg-er  vision  of 
the  g-reat  field  of  Christian  activity,  and  a  broader  view 
of  methods  and  plans  of  work.  As  the  necessity  arose, 
new  associations  were  org-anized,  but  these  org-aniza- 
tions,  notwithstanding-  their  size,  were  local  in  their 
scope  and  mission.  There  was  a  conscious  need  of  an 
org-anization  that  would  draw  tog-ether,  for  a  common 
purpose,  all  of  the  workers  within  the  sphere  of  its 
operations,  that  there  mig-ht  be  unity  in  plan  and  effort. 

This  feeling-  found  expression  in  the  call  issued  to 
all  of  the  churches,  early  in  1881,  to  send  their  pastors 
and  other  deleg-ates  to  a  g-eneral  rally  of  Baptists,  to  be 
held  on  the  shore  of  Lake  Madison.  There  was  a  g-rat- 
ifying-  response  to  this  appeal.  The  g-athering-  was 
somewhat  in  the  nature  of  a  camp-meeting*.  It  beg-an 
on  Thursday,  June  30,  and  continued  four  days,  clos- 
ing- on  the  following-  Sunday  evening-.  The  meeting-s 
were  held  in  Baker's  new  barn,  the  larg-est  one  in  Lake 
county,  which  was  fitted  up  for  the  occasion.     In  the 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  211 

chang-es  of  later  years,  the  main  portion  of  that  barn 
became  the  dining-  room  of  the  Lake  View  hotel,  be- 
long-ing-  to  the  Lake  Madison  Chautauqua  Association. 

The  leader  in  this  movement  was  Rev.  Edward  Ellis, 
then  g-eneral  missionary.  With  him  were  associated 
some  who  had  been  pioneers  in  relig-ious  work  in 
Dakota,  Revs.  T.  H.  Judson,  A.  W.  Hilton,  J.  P.  Coif- 
man,  Walter  Ross,  and  others.  Representative  Bap- 
tists from  abroad  were  present  and  assisted  g-reatly  in 
inspiring-  and  encourag-ing*  the  workers.  Rev.  William 
M.  Haig-h,  D.  D.,  gave  an  address  on  "Missionary 
Work  in  Dakota  Territory;"  Rev.  H.  O.  Rowland, 
D.  D.,  then  of  Oshkosh,  Wis.,  g-ave  helpful  addresses; 
Mrs.  C.  Swift,  of  Chicag-o,  g-ave  an  address  on  "Woman's 
Missionary  Work."  Various  devotional  meeting's  were 
held.  Sermons  were  preached  by  Revs.  J.  Edminster, 
Walter  Ross,  J.  P.  Coffman,  A.  W.  Hilton,  H.  O.  Row- 
land, and  others.  During-  the  services  on  Sunday 
morning-,  announcement  was  made  of  the  assassination 
of  President  Garfield.  Various  topics  of  importance 
were  fully  considered.  A  resolution  was  adopted  urg- 
ing- the  importance  of  the  establishment  of  a  Baptist 
school  of  learning  in  the  territory;  another  was 
adopted  recommending  the  immediate  formation  of 
woman's  mission  circles  in  all  the  churches,  to  co-oper- 
ate with  the  woman's  home  and  foreign  missionary 
societies. 

After  a  full  and  animated  discussion  of  the  subject  in 
all  its  bearings,  it  was  unanimously  voted  that  the  time 
had  come  for  the  organization  of  a  convention.  Some 
at  first  favored  the  idea  of  organizing  a  convention  for 
all  of  Dakota  Territory,  but  the  conclusion  was  reached 
harmoniously  that  the  proposed  convention  should  be 
for  South  Dakota.     A   committee   on   organization  was 


212  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

appointed,  consisting-  of  Revs.  J.  P.  Coffman,  J.  Ed- 
minster,  Walter  Ross,  E.  M.  Epstein  and  A.  S.  Orcutt. 
The  committee  reported  in  part  during-  the  meeting's, 
and  were  authorized  to  prepare  a  constitution  and 
by-laws  for  adoption  at  the  next  meeting-,  to  be  held  at 
Sioux  Palls.  The  following-  officers  were  elected: 
President,  Rev.  Edward  Ellis;  secretary.  Rev.  J.  P. 
Coffman;  treasurer,  Mr.  D.  P.  Ward.  The  choir  of  the 
Madison  Baptist  church,  and  the  Madison  cornet  band, 
furnished  inspiring'  music  during-  several  of  the  sessions 
of  the  convention.  The  devotional  meetings  were  con- 
ducted by  Revs.  J.  P.  Coffman,  F.  H.  Newton,  N. 
Tychsen,  E.  M.  Epstein,  H.  E.  Norton,  A.  S.  Orcutt, 
and  brethren  B.  S.  Wales  and  D.  P.  Ward.  In  addition 
to  the  ministers  in  attendance  at  the  convention,  who 
have  already  been  named,  there  were  present  a  g-oodly 
number  of  consecrated  laymen,  from  different  churches, 
"and  of  honorable  women,  not  a  few."  The  convention 
adjourned  to  meet  at  Sioux  Falls,  in  1882. 

While  the  orig-in  of  the  convention  is  usually  reg-arded 
as  dating-  from  the  meeting's  held  at  Lake  Madison  in 
1881,  its  org-anization  was  perfected  at  Sioux  Falls, 
November  1-3,  1882.  The  date  of  the  meeting-  was 
arrang-ed  to  suit  the  convenience  of  the  Baptist  church 
at  Sioux  Falls,  who  were  hastening'  the  preparations 
for  the  dedication  of  their  house  of  worship.  The  first 
three  sessions  were  held  in  the  Cong'reg'ational  church. 
The  minutes  of  the  preliminary  meetings,  held  at  Lake 
Madison,  were  read,  and  the  committee  on  organization 
presented  a  constitution  and  by-laws,  which  were 
adopted.  The  following  officers  were  elected:  Presi- 
dent, Rev.  J.  P.  Coffman;  vice  presidents.  Revs.  G.  W. 
Freeman  and  Walter  Ross;  recording  secretary.  Rev. 
Geo.  A.  Cressey;  corresponding  secretary.  Rev.  A.  S. 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OP  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  2l3 

Orcutt;  treasurer,  Georg-e  Morehouse.  A  board  of 
fifteen  manag-ers  was  elected,  divided  into  three  classes, 
of  five  each,  to  serve  one,  two  and  three  years. 

Instead  of  an  annual  sermon,  several  addresses  were 
delivered.  Among'  these  was  an  address  by  Rev. 
Marsena  Stone,  D.  D.,  on  *'The  Needs  and  Benefits  of 
a  State  Convention,"  and  one  by  Rev.  Wm.  M.  Haig-h, 
D.  D.,  on  "New  Developments  in  Western  Missions." 
All  of  the  usual  objects  of  Christian  beneficence  were 
fully  considered.  The  Baptist  house  of  worship  was 
dedicated  on  Wednesday  evening-,  November  2.  The 
sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  P.  S.  Henson,  D.  D.,  of 
Chicag-o.  On  the  day  following*  the  dedication,  the 
sessions  of  the  convention  were  held  in  the  Baptist 
church.  The  committee  on  obituaries  announced  the 
death,  September  20,  of  Rev.  A.  W.  Hilton,  one  of  the 
pioneer  missionaries,  the  second  death  among-  Baptist 
ministers  since  the  beginning-  of  missionary  work  in 
Dakota.  An  interesting-  session,  devoted  to  a  consid- 
eration of  woman's  work  in  missions  was  held.  The 
closing-  session  was  in  the  interest  of  Christian  educa- 
tion. The  long-  cherished  desire  for  the  establishment 
of  a  Baptist  institution  of  learning  seemed  about  to  be 
realized,  in  the  prospective  opening,  at  Sioux  Palls,  of 
the  "Dakota  Colleg'iate  Institute."  Several  earnest 
addresses  were  delivered  by  members  of  the  conven- 
tion and  citizens  of  Sioux  Falls.  Rev.  Jacob  Olsen  was 
ordained  by  a  council  held  during  the  sessions  of  the 
.convention. 

The  South  Dakota  Baptist  Convention  was  now  fully 
organized.  It  had  a  constituency  of  thirty-two  min- 
isters, thirty-one  churches,  including  several  Scandi- 
navian but  not  including  three  or  four  German  churches 
recently  organized,  and  a  total  reported  membership 


214  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OP  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

of  846.  Of  the  thirty-two  ministers  only  twenty  were 
pastors,  the  others  not  being-  in  active  service  on 
account  of  age  and  infirmities,  or  living*  on  claims  to 
establish  homes.  The  annual  meetings  of  the  conven- 
tion have  been  regularly  held.  On  account  of  the 
extensive  area  of  its  field  of  operations,  over  seventy- 
six  thousand  square  miles,  and  the  high  rate  of  fare 
for  travel  by  railroad  lines,  for  several  years  the  aver- 
age attendance  was  not  large,  but  interest  in  its  object 
and  work  was  'maintained  and  gradually  increased. 
Within  recent  years  there  has  been  a  gratifying 
increase  in  attendance,  and  every  department  of  its 
work  has  received  careful  and  earnest  attention.  In  1884, 
the  South  Dakota  Baptist  Ministerial  Union  was  organ- 
ized, and  its  annual  meetings,  increasingly  interesting 
and  profitable,  are  always  held  in  connection  with  the 
annual  meetings  of  the  convention.  The  growing' 
interest  in  woman's  home  and  foreign  missionary  work 
has  been  helpful  in  securing  the  attendance  of  conse- 
crated workers.  All  of  the  leading  objects  of  benevo- 
lence are  fully  considered  and  encouraged.  The  repre- 
sentatives of  our  denominational  societies  are  cordially 
welcomed,  and  in  their  absence  their  causes  are  not 
overlooked. 

The  fundamental  and  primary  idea  of  a  state  conven- 
tion is  the  development  of  missionary  resources,  and 
the  prosecution  of  missionary  work,  within  the  state. 
This. has  never  been  forgotten,  and  in  more  recent 
years  it  has  been  kept  conspicuously  prominent.  For 
many  years  the  small  number  of  churches,  and  their 
weakness,  rendered  it  necessary  that  a  large  propor- 
tion of  the  amount  needed  for  the  support  of  pastors 
should  come  from  the  American  Baptist  Home  Mission 
Society.       This    condition    of    dependence    continued 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  215 

long-er,  in  the  case  of  some  of  the  older  churches,  than 
was  anticipated,  on  account  of  trying-  local  conditions, 
and  the  hardships  and  disappointments  incident  to  the 
developement  of  a  new  country.  The  small  contribu- 
tions of  the  churches,  as  compared  with  the  larg-e 
amount  annually  appropriated  by  the  society,  did  not 
furnish  a  very  satisfactory  basis  for  a  plan  of 
co-operation. 

To  co-operate  is  to  act  or  operate  jointly  with 
another  or  others.  It  is  concurrent  effort  on  the  part 
of  tw^o  or  more  parties  to  accomplish  a  desired  end. 
The  plan  of  co-operation  between  the  state  convention 
and  the  Home  Mission  Society,  g-enerally  adopted  in  the 
older  western  states,  was  frequently  considered,  and 
in  1891  it  was  adopted.  For  a  year  or  two  it  was  more 
nominal  than  real,  but  as  the  churches  came  to  under- 
stand its  necessity,  and  the  advantag^es  that  would 
result  from  it,  in  cultivating-  a  spirit  of  self-reliance, 
and  developing  systematic  and  scriptural  habits  of 
benevolence,  they  accepted  it  as  something-  not  only 
needed,  but  to  be  desired.  The  churches  of  South 
Dakota  are  rapidly  coming-  into  a  closer  understanding- 
of  the  duty  resting-  on  each  state  to  foster  its  own 
needy  fields,  by  increasing-  its  own  resources;  each 
year  g-radually  releasing-  its  claims  on  the  Home  Mis- 
sion Society,  until  finally  the  society  can  transfer  its 
beneficence  to  newer  and  more  needy  fields  in  the 
reg-ions  beyond.  Each  year,  by  the  action  of  the  con- 
vention, a  specified  amount  for  the  state  convention 
fund,  or  state  missions,  reasonably  larg-er  than  in  the 
preceding-  year,  is  apportioned  among-  the  churches. 
The  churches  g-enerally  have  accepted  their  apportion- 
ment, and  raised  it  with  commendable  promptness,  as  a 
duty  that  should  be  performed,  in  g-rateful  recog-nition 


216  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

of  g-enerous  assistance  rendered  to  them  in  the  past. 
In  meeting-  these  increased  obligations,  though  it 
involves  some  sacrifice  and  effort,  more  has  been 
accomplished  than  merely  to  raise  a  specified  amount 
of  money.  It  has  had  an  educating-  effect  on  the 
churches,  and  led  to  broader  views  of  benevolence,  and 
impressed  on  many  minds  the  truth  of  that  saying-  of 
Christ,  "It  is  more  blessed  to  g-ive  than  to  receive." 


HON.  HOSMER   H.  KEITH, 

PRESIDENT    BOARD    OF   TRUSTEES,    18S4-1899. 
PRESIDENT   SOUTH    DAKOTA    BAPTIST   CONVENTION,    18S3-4-S. 


Jh..^  /9^^ 


CHAPTER   XXI. 


RELATION  TO  MISSIONARY  SOCIETIES. 

It  was  the  day  of  small  things  when  missionary  work 
was  first  undertaken  in  South  Dakota,  but  in  the  found- 
ing- of  pioneer  settlements,  and  the  establishment  of 
churches,  those  who  came  first  to  this  new  field  did  not 
forg-et  the  necessity  for  evang-elizing-  America,  and 
preaching-  the  g-ospel  throug-hout  the  world.  Por  the 
success  of  these  objects  they  prayed,  and  out  of  their 
poverty  they  made  annual  oifering-s  for  missions.  At 
the  org-anization  of  the  first  association  at  Vermillion, 
in  1872,  the  following-  preamble  and  resolution  were 
adopted: 

Whereas,  We  recog-nize  that  we,  as  a  part  of  Christ's 
working-  force  on  the  earth,  are  responsible  for  the 
execution  of  his  command  to  disciple  all  nations;  and 
recognizing-  in  the  different  societies  of  the  denomina- 
tion, efficient  ag-encies  for  the  accomplishment  of  this 
work;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  we  extend  our  hearty  sympathy  to 
and  pledg-e  our  hearty  co-operation  with  the  American 
Baptist  Home  Mission  Society,  the  American  Baptist 
Missionary  Union,  and  the  Publication  Society,  and 
that  we  will  support  them,  by  pur  influence,  our  con- 
tributions and  our  prayers. 

This  action  was  taken  when  the  ability  to  assist  in 
the  g-eneral  work  of  these  societies  was  limited,  but  the 
disposition  to  g-ive,  and  the  practice  of  benevolence, 
have  grown  with  each  succeeding-  year. 


218  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

AMERICAIV  BAPTIST  HOME  MISSIOX  SOCIETY. 

To  the  foster  mother  of  nearly  all  of  the  Baptist 
churches  in  South  Dakota,  a  lasting*  debt  of  g-ratitude 
is  due.  If  it  had  not  been  for  her  assistance  rendered 
from  the  beginning,  and  continued  with  a  liberal  hand, 
and  her  fostering-  care  in  aiding-  to  support  pastors  and 
to  secure  homes  for  the  churches,  the  Baptist  cause  in 
South  Dakota  could  never  have  g-rown  and  reached  its 
present  position  of  influence  and  power  among  the 
relig-ious  forces  of  the  state.  At  the  same  associational 
meeting-  referred  to,  this  resolution  was  adopted: 

Resolved,  That  in  the  American  Baptist  Home  Mis- 
sion Society  we  recog-nize  our  kindest  and  best  friend, 
and  that  she  has  claims  upon  us  above  all  others;  and 
we  extend  to  her  our  heartiest  thanks  for  the  interest 
manifested  in  leng-thening-  the  cords  and  streng-thening 
the  stakes  of  our  Zion  in  this  territory. 

To  the  extent  of  her  ability  the  society  rendered 
assistance  to  strugg-ling-  churches  in  existence,  and 
made  it  possible  to  organize  new  ones,  with  a  superin- 
tending- missionary  to  care  for  their  interests.  The 
following-  persons  have  represented  the  society  on  this 
field  as  general  missionaries,  or  state  superintendents: 
Rev.  G.  W.  Freeman,  two  years  and  seven  months, 
from  March  1,  1871  to  October  1,  1874;  Rev.  Edward 
Ellis,  five  years,  from  August  1,  1880,  to  August  1, 
1885;  and  Rev.  T.  M.  Shanafelt,  nearly  eleven  years,  from 
April  1, 1888,  to  the  present  time,  January,  1899.  This 
work  of  a  superintending  missionary  has  covered 
eighteen  of  the  thirty-five  years  since  missionary  work 
was  first  begun  in  Dakota  Territory.  If  there  could 
have  been  a  superintendent  of  missions  during  the 
seventeen  years  when  no  such  service  was  rendered, 
our  denomination  would  today  hold  a  position  in  advance 
of  that  which  it  now  occupies.     The  fields  of  most  of 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  219 

the  pastors  were  too  larg'e  to  enable  them  to  take 
advantag-e  of  favorable  opportunities,  and  seize  stra- 
teg"ic  points,  and  plant  churches,  at  the  times  when 
local  conditions  were  most  favorable  for  org-anization 
and  rapid  growth. 

After  Rev.  G.  W.  Freeman's  personal  oversight  of 
the  work  ended,  Rev.  J.  N.  Webb,  D.  D.,  who  had  been 
general  missionary  for  Nebraska,  was  appointed  district 
secretary  for  Nebraska  and  Dakota  Territory.  The 
building  of  the  Union  Pacific  railroad  had  led  to  the 
rapid  development  of  Nebraska.  This  rendered  it 
necessary  for  him  to  devote  most  of  his  time  and  labor 
to  that  portion  of  his  district.  Though  only  one  or 
two  new  churches  were  organized  on  this  field  during 
the  terrn  of  his  appointment,  yet  he  rendered  such 
service  as  he  could,  and  helped  to  encourage  the 
workers,  and  strengthen  the  churches  then  existing. 
Through  his  personal  efforts,  and  the  agencies  that  he 
set  in  motion,  he  did  much  to  prevent  permanent  dis- 
aster to  the  early  Scandinavian  churches,  whose  growth 
was  checked,  and  their  existence  imperiled,  by  the  per- 
nicious activity  of  Seventh  Day  Adventists,  in  1874-5-6. 
His  term  of  service  as  district  secretary  for  Nebraska 
and  Dakota  Territory  began  February  1,  1875,  and 
ended  October  1,  1877. 

In  1877,  Rev.  Wm.  M.  Haigh,  D.  D.,  was  appointed 
western  general  superintendent  of  missions.  His 
headquarters  were  at  Chicago.  In  the  course  of  time 
South  Dakota  was  included  in  his  district.  He  made 
his  first  visit  to  the  field  at  a  time  of  great  need,  in 
August,  1879,  and  occasionally  thereafter,  as  the  over- 
whelming cares  and  duties  of  his  office  would  permit. 
His  watchful  eye,  however,  was  constantly  overlooking 
all  the  fields  in  his  district,  and  his  superintendence 


220  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

was  helpful  and  inspiring*.  Owing"  to  the  immensity  of 
his  district  it  was  divided  in  1887,  and  Rev.  H.  C. 
Woods,  D.  D.,  was  appointed  district  secretary  and 
g-eneral  superintendent  of  missions  for  a  larg-e  district 
west  of  the  Missouri  river,  including-  South  Dakota. 
The  g-enial  spirit  and  helpful  counsel  of  Dr.  Woods,  at 
the  annual  meeting's  of  the  convention  and  associations, 
and  other  important  occasions,  will  always  be  g-rate- 
fully  remembered.  In  1892,  a  re-adjustment  of  dis- 
tricts, with  a  view  to  increase  their  number,  so  chang-ed 
their  boundary  lines  as  to  sever  his  official  relations 
with  South  Dakota. 

For  two  years  this  state  was  not  included  in  any  dis- 
trict*  In  1894  a  new  district  was  formed,  consisting* 
of  Minnesota,  South  Dakota  and  North  Dakoj^a,  to  be 
known  as  the  Red  River  District,  and  Rev.  T.  R. 
Peters,  D.  D.,  was  appointed  to  take  its  superintend- 
ence. He  had  just  entered  upon  its  duties,  and  was 
about  to  beg-in  his  official  relation  to  South  Dakota, 
when  he  was  suddenly  called  away  by  death.  After 
several  months  of  waiting-,  his  successor.  Rev.  O.  A. 
Williams,  D.  D.,  was  appointed.  He  beg-an  his  work 
as  district  secretary,  and  superintendent  of  missions, 
September  1,  1894.  His  wise  counsel,  and  g-entle 
spirit,  and  brotherly  kindness,  have  caused  him  to  be 
held  in  the  hig-hest  esteem  by  the  churches  of  the  four 
states  of  which  he  is  the  efficient  superintendent. 
With  the  addition  of  Wisconsin  in  1898,  the  name  of 
the  district  was  chang-ed.  It  is  now  known  as  the 
Upper  Mississippi  District. 

The  number  of  commissions  issued  to  missionaries 
in  Dakota  Territory  from  the  beg-inning-  to  its  division 
in  1889,  was  392.  It  is  a  fair  estimate  that  three-fifths 
of  these,  or  235,   were  for  missionary  labor  in  South 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  221 

Dakota.  Since  statehood  the  number  of  commissions 
issued  to  South  Dakota  to  the  present  time  is  384,  a 
total  ol  619. 

The  appropriations  for  missionary  labor  in  Dakota 
Territory  to  the  beg-inning-  of  statehood  amounted  to 
$93,028.65,  and  to  South  Dakota  since  that  period, 
$91,000.  Estimating-  three-fifths  of  the  first-named 
amount,  $55,817.19,  as  appropriated  to  missionaries  in 
South  Dakota,  it  is  safe  to  say  that  the  total  amount  of 
appropriations  for  missionary  aid  in.  this  state,  from 
the  beg-inning-,  in  1864,  to  the  present  time,  is  $146,817. 
Prom  the  church  edifice  fund  Baptist  churches  in 
South  Dakota  have  received  g-enerous  assistance  in 
building-  houses  of  worship — in  g-ifts,  $19,096.90;  in 
loans,  $12,825.00;  total,  $31,921.90.  Of  this  amount  the 
present ,  state  superintendent  of  missions,  in  1890, 
secured  in  Michig-an  and  Ohio  $2,600.00  as  a  special 
church  edifice  fund  for  the  Black  Hills.  This  desig- 
nated fund  was  forwarded  to  the  treasurer  of  the 
society. 

The  total  amount  of  aid  received  by  South  Dakota 
from  the  American  Baptist  Home  Mission  Society  for 
missionary  support  and  in  building-  homes  for  the 
churches  since  1864  to  January,  1899,  is  $178,739.09. 
As  compared  with  the  wonderful  g-enerosity  of  the 
society,  the  contributions  sent  to  it  for  its  g-eneral 
work  by  the  churches  of  the  state  have  been  very  small, 
amounting-  to  $11,229.79.  In  the  statistical  table  g-iving- 
the  reported  benevolence  and  expenses  from  1864  to 
1898,  the  total  reported  contributions  for  home  mis- 
sions amount  to  $15,972.81,  but  this  includes  the  con- 
tributions of  the  women's  mission  circles  sent  to  the 
treasurer  of  their  society,  at  Chicag-o.  Since  1894 
there  has  also  been  raised  by  the  churches  in  the  state 


222  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

for  state  missions  $6,071.50,  under  the  existing-  plan  of 
co-operation  between  the  society  and  the  state  conven- 
tion. The  foreg-oing-  statements  as  to  the  number  of 
commissions  issued,  and  the  amount  of  missionary  aid 
and  church  edifice  g-ifts  and  loans  received,  are  accu- 
rate and  official,  the  details  having-  been  obtained 
throug-h  requests  for  information  sent  to  the  officers  of 
the  society,  after  an  examination  of  the  books  and  rec- 
ords covering-  a  period  of  thirty  years. 

AMERICAIV  BAPTIST  MISSIONARY  UNION. 

Thoug-h  the  first  oblig-ation  resting-  upon  the  churches 
has  been  to  assist  the  society  that  made  their  existence 
possible,  and  has  helped  to  maintain  that  existence,  the 
cause  of  foreig-n  missions  has  never  been  overlooked. 
The  first  churches  that  were  org-anized,  in  their  early 
strug-g-les  to  become  firmly  established,  manifested  by 
resolutions  and  contributions  their  sympathy  for  the 
nations  that  are  without  the  g-ospel.  All  have  done 
what  they  coUld  to  assist  in  evang-elizing-  the  world. 
The  Scandinavian  and  German  churches  have  made 
specially  g-enerous  offering-s  for  this  cause.  In  addi- 
tion to  their  contributions  for  foreig-n  missions,  during- 
the  famine  in  Russia  in  1894,  the  German-Russian  Bap- 
tists of  South  Dakota  sent  over  $1,500  to  relieve  the 
wants  of  the  destitute.  The  total  reported  contribu- 
tions for  foreig-n  missions  from  the  churches  is  $13,- 
250.94,  from  women's  mission  circles,  $4,989.43.  Total, 
$18,230.37. 

Five  representatives  from  South  Dakota  Baptist 
churches  have  labored  on  foreig-n  mission  fields.  Rev. 
C.  B.  Antisdell,  of  Vermyiion,  went  as  a  missionary  to 
the  Cong-o  reg-ion  in  Africa,  in  September,  1892.  Rev. 
S.  A.  D.  Bog-g-s,  and  his  wife,  of  Akron,  went  to  Assam, 
in    1893.     Rev.    P.  Weddel,    a   German   Baptist,    went 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  223 

to  Africa  in  1892,  and  died  there  in  1897.  A.  E.  Saba, 
a  native  Syrian,  born  near  the  forests  of  Lebanon,  was 
converted  and  became  an  active  member  of  the  Baptist 
church  at  Deadwood.  He  g-raduated  at  the  Southern 
Theolog-ical  Seminary  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  in  1896,  and 
returned  to  Syria  as  a  missionary.  He  died  there  in 
the  summer  of  1897. 

AMERICAN  BAPTIST  PUBLICATION  SOCIETY. 

The  org-anization  of  Baptist  Sunday  schools,  and  the 
distribution  of  Baptist  literature,  became  necessary 
with  the  beg-inning-  of  the  work  of  planting-  Baptist 
churches.  Earnest  appeals  were  made  to  the  American 
Baptist  Publication  Society  for  the  appointment  of  a 
Sunday  school  missionary  and  colporteur.  Rev.  Isaiah 
W.  Reed  was  appointed  Sunday  school  missionary  for 
Nebraska  and  Dakota  in  1870,  but  there  is  no  record  of 
his  having-  rendered  any  service  outside  of  Nebraska. 
Mr.  Georg-e  T.  Johnson  was  appointed  for  Dakota  in 
1880,  and  served  nearly  one  year. 

Mr.  B.  S.  Wales  was  appointed  Sunday  school  mis- 
sionary and  colporteur,  December  1,  1881,  and  served 
until  May  1,  1887.  During-  the  six  years  and  a  half  that 
he  was  in  the  service  of  the  society,  with  his  mission- 
ary ponies  and  wag-on-load  of  books,  he  traveled  over 
the  territory,  org-anizing-  Baptist  Sunday  schools,  and 
scattering-  sound  and  healthful  literature.  In  his  report 
of  services  rendered,  it  is  stated  that  at  the  beg-inning- 
of  his  term  of  service  he  found  nine  Baptist  Sunday 
schools  in  existence;  at  its  close  there  were  over  eig-hty. 
In  a  summary  of  his  labors  during-  this  period  he  g-ives 
the  following-  statistics:  Org-anized  personally  fifty  and 
indirectly  twenty-two  Sunday  schools,  visited  3,500 
families,  delivered  1,000  addresses,  traveled,  mainly  by 
team,  35,000  miles,  sold  and  distributed  5,000  copies  of 


224  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

the  Scriptures,  and  3,200  books,  and  distributed  65,000 
pag-es  of  tracts.  Under  the  fostering-  care  of  mission- 
ary pastors,  eight  churches  were  organized  on  fields 
where  Sunday  schools  had  been  planted. 

In  July,  1888,  Mr.  David  P.  Ward  was  appointed 
Sunday  school  missionary.  He  had  previously  been 
eng-ag-ed  for  seven  or  eight  years  in  union  Sunday 
school  work.  In  September,  1895,  he  resigned  to 
become  Sunday  school  missionary  for  California. 
During-  the  seven  years  that  he  was  in  the  service  of 
the  Publication  Society  in  South  Dakota  he  org-anized 
a  number  of  new  schools.  Statistical  reports  of  his 
labors  are  meag-er  and  incomplete.  The  following- 
summary  is  given:  Addresses  delivered,  1,423;  Bibles 
and  Testaments  distributed,  1,502;  pages  of  tracts  dis- 
tributed, 20,500;  miles  traveled,  84,750;  Sunday  schools 
org-anized,  37. 

Mr.  Prank  D.  Hall  was  appointed  Sunday  school 
missionary,  October  1,  1895.  He  also  has  charg-e  of 
the  work  in  North  Dakota.  Since  his  appointment  for 
this  state  he  has  org-anized  in  South  Dakota  seven  new 
Sunday  schools;  sold  and  distributed  310  Bibles  and 
Testaments;  distributed  17,200  pages  of  tracts;  and 
traveled  21,566  miles.  Peter  Anderson,  P.  M.  Olsen, 
C.  A.  Lindbloom,  and  Rev.  O.  Sutherland  have  served 
as  colporteurs  among-  the  Scandinavians.  During- 
1892-3,  Rev.  H.  P.  Wilkinson,  Sunday  school  missionary 
for  Wyoming-,  also  rendered  valuable  services  in  the 
Black  Hills.  Rev.  E.  G.  Wheeler,  who,  with  his  wife, 
had  charg-e  for  several  years  of  the  chapel  car  "Eman- 
uel," and  was  accidentally  killed  in  New  Mexico, 
August  7,  1895,  was  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  in  cen- 
tral South  Dakota.  He  built  the  first  dwelling-  house 
in  Huron,  where  for  several  years  he  was  a  drugg-ist. 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  225 

He  org-anized  the  first  Sunday  school  in  the  city.  In 
1884,  he  went  from  Huron  to  the  Pacific  coast  where 
he  became  a  Sunday  school  missionary  in  Oregon  and 
Washing-ton. 

W^OMAN'S  BAPTIST  FOREIGN  MISSION  SOCIETY. 

During'  most  of  the  years  since  the  org-anization  of 
the  Woman's  Baptist  Poreig-n  Mission  Society  of  the 
west,  in  1871,  it  has  been  represented  in  South  Dakota 
by  a  vice  president,  or  a  state  secretary,  or  both.  The 
following-  have  served  as  vice  president  since  1880: 
Mrs.  E.  J.  Brownson,  Yankton;  Mrs.  Edward  Ellis, 
Sioux  Falls;  Mrs.  W.  W.  Smith,  Sioux  Falls;  Mrs. 
Miltimore,  Huron;  Mrs.  Helen  M.  Barker,  Huron;  Mrs. 
C.  E.  Baker,  Sioux  Falls;  Mrs.  D.  C.  Smith,  Pierre; 
and  Mrs.  C.  F.  Hackett,  Parker.  The  following-  have 
been  under  appointment  as  state  secretary:  Miss 
Mabel  Childs,  Childstown;  Mrs.  H.  J.  Austin,  Ver- 
million; Mrs.  F.  B.  Dobson,  Sioux  Falls;  Mrs.  C.  H. 
Hotchkiss,  Marion;  Mrs.  J.  Farg-o,  Dell  Rapids;  Mrs. 
W.  W.  Smith,  Sioux  Falls;  and  since  March  1,  1888, 
Miss  Emma  L.  Swartz,  Parkston. 

The  annual  contributions  to  the  society  from  women's 
mission  circles  have  rang-ed  from  one  dollar  in  1872,  to 
$635.34  in  1893.  The  contributions  from  the  beg-inning- 
to  the  division  of  Dakota  Territory  in  1889,  represent 
both  South  Dakota  and  North  Dakota,  and  amount  to 
SI, 203. 31.  Of  this  amount  at  least  two-thirds,  or 
$802.20,  represent  the  offering-s  of  the  women's  mission 
circles  in  South  Dakota.  The  reported  contributions 
from  this  state  since  the  division  of  the  territory 
amount  to  $4,1-87.23.  Total  since  1872,  $4,989.43. 
Much  of  the  interest  in  and  success  of  the  w^ork  in 
South  Dakota,   during-  the  last  eleven  years,  has  been 

15 


226  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

due  to  the  persistent  efforts  and  perseverance  of  the 
state  secretary,  Miss  Emma  L.  Swartz. 

MADMAN'S  BA^PTIST  HOME  MISSION  SOCIETY. 

This  society  was  org-anized  in  1877.  Its  object  is  to 
promote  woman's  work  for  women  and  children  among- 
Americans,  and  people  of  all  nationalities  and  races  in 
America.  Its  motto  is  "Christ  in  every  home."  Under 
its  manag-ement  is  the  missionary  training-  school,  in 
which  many  young-  ladies  have  been  educated  and 
trained  for  missionary  work,  both  in  America  and  in 
foreig-n  lands.  The  society  elects  annually  a  vice- 
president  from  each  western  state,  who  has  the  g-eneral 
supervision  of  woman's  home  mission  work  in  her  state, 
including-  the  org-anization  of  women's  mission  circles 
and  young-  people's  mission  bands,  and  raising-  funds 
throug-h  these  org-anizations  for  the  g-eneral  work  of  the 
society.  The  following  have  served  as  vice-president 
for  South  Dakota:  1882  to  1884,  Mrs.  R.  R.  May,  Can- 
ton; 1885  to  1888,  Mrs.  J.  Rowley,  Vermillion;  1889  to 
1896,  Mrs.  T.  M.  Shanafelt,  Huron;  1896-7,  Mrs.  L.  J. 
Ross,  De  Smet;  since  1898,  Mrs.  E.  T.  Cressey,  Sioux 
Falls. 

The  young-  women  who  have  represented  South 
Dakota  in  the  missionary  training-  school,  and  as  mis- 
sionary workers  on  various  fields,  are  as  follows:  Miss 
Belle  L.  Pettig-rew,  from  Sioux  Palls,  several  years  a 
missionary  among-  the  colored  people  in  the  south,  a 
teacher  in  Shaw  University,  Raleig-h,  N.  C,  and  now 
preceptress  in  Rog-er  Williams  University,  Nashville, 
Tenn.;  Miss  Caroline  E.  Larson,  missionary  among-  the 
Mormons,  at  Og-den,  Utah;  Miss  Abbie  E.  Ross, 
teacher  and  missionary  among-  the  Chinese  in  San 
Francisco,  Cal.;  Miss  Marie  S.  Liebig-,  missionary 
among  the  Germans  in  Dayton,  O.;  and  Mrs.  Martha 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  227 

Liebig-  Wedal,  g-eneral  missionary  among-  the  Germans 
in  South  Dakota.  Miss  Mary  Cliser  and  Miss  Emma 
Olsen  were  members  of  the  training-  school  from  1883 
to  1886. 

The  contributions  from  South  Dakota  amount  to 
§2,839.03.  This  has  been  sent  mainly  by  the  women's 
mission  circles,  auxiliary  to  the  churches.  For  several 
years,  in  addition  to  the  amount  here  reported,  these 
circles  have  paid  to  the  treasurer  of  the  South  Dakota 
Baptist  Convention,  for  missionary  work  in  this  state, 
one-half  or  more  of  the  amount  raised  by  them  for 
home  missions.  The  women's  mission  circles  of  this 
state  are  organized  on  the  union  plan,  representing- 
study,  work,  and  contributions  for  both  home  and  for- 
eig-n  missions. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 


SIOUX  FALLS  COLLEGE. 

The  subject  of  Christian  education  was  among-  the 
important  matters  that  received  careful  consideration 
in  the  early  days  of  Dakota  Territory.  The  pioneers, 
in  a  broad  and  far-reaching"  forecast  of  the  future, 
seemed  to  clearly  understand  that  they  were  laying-  the 
foundations  of  a  coming-  state,  and  they  desired,  at  the 
beg-inning-,  to  make  provisions  for  the  education  of  their 
children,  and  of  the  g-enerations  that  should  follow. 

When  there  were  only  nine  Baptist  churches  in  all 
the  territory,  on  the  first  occasion  for  the  assembling- 
tog-ether  of  the  pastors  and  other  representatives  of 
these  churches,  at  the  time  of  the  org-anizat^on  of  the 
Southern  Dakota  Baptist  Association,  at  Vermillion, 
June  5,  1872,  a  committee  on  Christian  education  was 
appointed,  consisting-  of  J.  J.  Mclntire,  S.  A.  Ufford, 
and  Martin  J.  Lewis.  The  committee  presented  the 
following-  resolutions,  which  were  fully  discussed  and 
unanimously  adopted: 

Resolved^  That  this  association  recog-nize  the  inter- 
ests of  Christ's  cause  in  this  young-  and  g-rowing-  terri- 
tory, in  connection  with  our  denomination,  as  intimately 
allied  to  the  interests  of  hig-her  education. 

Resolved,  That  we  take  immediate  steps  for  the 
establishment  of  an  institute  among-  us,  and  that  we 
devote  a  suitable  portion  of  time  at  each  annual  meeting- 
to  a  consideration  of  this  important  subject,  and  give 


SIOUX    FALLS    COLLECiP:. 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  229 

our  individual  and  associated  influence  to  encourag-in^ 
a  more  g^eneral  and  complete  education  of  our  youth 
under  distinctively  Christian  influences. 

Resolved,  That  we  org-anize  an  educational  depart- 
ment (for  the  present  in  connection  with  the  g'eneral 
work  of  the  association),  by  the  election  of  a  committee 
on  education,  consisting"  of  seven  members,  whose  duty 
it  shall  be  to  consider  and  propose  the  best  means  of 
helping"  the  cause,  and  especially  to  select  a  locality, 
easy  of  access,  healthy,  and  surrounded  by  moral, 
intellectual  and  social  influences,  friendly  and  helpful 
to  the  interests  of  an  institute,  and  that  will  furnish 
the  larg-est  financial  assistance. 

The  committee  appointed  to  carry  out  the  spirit  and 
instructions  of  these  resolutions  consisted  of  the  fol- 
lowing" persons:  J.  J.  Mclntire,  G.  W.  Freeman,  J. 
H.  Young",  J.  L.  Coppoc,  E.  H.  Hurlbutt,  S.  A.  Uiford 
and  M.  J.  Lewis.  At  each  annual  meeting"  of  the  asso- 
ciation the  subject  was  earnestly  discussed,  and  plans 
for  the  establishment  of  an  institution  of  learning"  were 
considered.  That  something"  decisive  and  definite  was 
not  done  was  due  to  the  weakness  and  poverty  of  the 
churches,  and  the  crop  failures  and  hard  times  result- 
ing" from  various  causes,  covering"  a  period  of  several 
years.  Thougfh  unable  to  carry  out  any  of  these  cher- 
ished plans,  the  subject  of  hig"her  education  lay  heavily 
on  the  hearts  of  the  people,  and  when,  in  later  years, 
the  time  came  for  action,  they  were  ready  to  render 
prompt  and  willing"  assistance. 

In  1881  a  call  was  issued  for  a  mass  meeting"  of  Bap- 
tists in  the  southern  half  of  Dakota  Territory.  It  was 
held  at  Lake  Madison,  July  1-4.  The  primary  object 
of  the  meeting"  was  to  consider  the  advisability  of 
org-anizing"  a  Baptist  state  or  territorial  convention. 
The  South  Dakota  Baptist  Convention  was  org"anized, 
officers  were  elected,  and  a  constitution  was  adopted  at 


230  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

the  next  meeting-,  held  in  Sioux  Palls,  in  1882.  At  this 
meeting-,  held  at  Lake  Madison,  the  necessity  for  estab- 
lishing- a  denominational  school  was  fully  revealed  in  the 
earnest  discussions  held  at  different  sessions.  The 
following-  resolution  was  adopted: 

Resolved,  That  it  is  our  duty  to  watch  with  vig-ilance 
the  indications  of  Providence  with  reference  to  the 
establishment  of  an  institution  of  learning-  in  Dakota, 
and  that  a  committee  shall  be  appointed  whose  duty  it 
shall  be  to  correspond  with  and  receive  offers  from  dif- 
ferent localities,  looking-  towards  the  establishment  of 
such  a  school. 

The  committee  appointed  to  secure  proposals  for  the. 
location  of  the  school  were  Edward  Ellis,  A.  W.  Hilton, 
A.  S.  Orcutt,  M.  J.  Lewis  and  B.  Morse.  The  larg-est 
financial  offer  was  made  by  citizens  of  Sioux  Palls,  who 
proposed  to  g-ive,  in  cash  and  land,  $6,000.  Their  prop- 
osition was  accepted,  and  the  school  was  located  at 
Sioux  Palls.  It  was  at  first  called  the  Dakota  Colleg-i- 
ate  Institute.  Through  the  arrang-ements  made  at  the 
meeting-  at  Lake  Madison,  a  board  of  trustees  was 
elected.  A  provisional  school  was  beg-un  in  a  hall  in 
the  city,  but  it  continued  only  a  few  months.  A  suit- 
able building-  for  the  school  was  necessary. 

About  November  1, 1882,  the  Baptist  church  at  Sioux 
Palls  completed  its  house  of  worship,  and  Rev.  E.  B. 
Meredith  became  its  pastor,  January  1,  1883.  He  and 
Rev.  Edward  Ellis  secured  the  $6,000  pledg-ed  by  Sioux 
Palls— including-  $3,000  in  cash  and  forty  acres  of  land. 
The  board  of  trustees  appointed  E.  B.  Meredith,  E.  P. 
Beebe  and  Edward  Ellis  an  executive  committee,  with 
authority  to  make  arrang-ements  for  starting-  the  school 
and  erecting-  a  building-  for  its  use.  The  work  was 
undertaken,  and  in  the  fall  of  1883  the  foundation  of 
the  present  building-  was  laid.     A  curriculum  of  study 


THE  Baptist  history  op  sodth  dakota.       231 

was  prepared,  and  Professor  Hardy  C.  Stone,  a  recent 
g'raduate  of  Colg'ate  University,  was  called  to  take 
charg-e  of  the  educational  work.  Meanwhile  E.  B.  Mer- 
edith and  Edward  Ellis  were  making-  arrang-ements  for 
the  completion  of  the  building-  and  looking-  after  the 
financial  interests  of  the  school,  in  addition  to  their 
other  labors  as  pastor  of  a  strug-g-ling-  church  and  serv- 
ing- as  g-eneral  missionary. 

The  first  session  of  the  school  opened -September  18, 
1883,  in  the  basement  of  the  Baptist  church,  where  all 
of  the  sessions  were  held  for  two  years.  The  total 
number  of  students  enrolled  the  first  year  was  one 
hundred  and  fifteen.  The'faculty  consisted  of  Prof. 
Hardy  C.  Stone,  principal;  Rev.  E.  B.  Meredith,  Dr. 

A.  H.  Tufts,  Hon.  S.  E.  Young-,  Mrs.  S.  E.  Young-, 
Mrs.  A.  H.  Arnold,  Mrs.  Eora  Welsh,  and  Miss  Nellie 
Hall.  The  second  year  Prof.  F.  W.  Perry  and  his 
wife,  who  had  taug-ht  several  years  in  Shaw  University, 
and  Mrs.  C.  M.  Aikin,  were  added  to  the  faculty. 
Principal  H.  C.  Stone  died  of  typhoid  fever,  February 
11,  1885.  He  was  a  young-  man  of  g-reat  promise.  His 
superior  ability,  unselfish  spirit,  and  hig-h  Christian 
character,  commended  him  to  all  who  knew  him.  His 
death  left  the  charg-e  of  the  school  in  the  hands  of  Prof. 
F.  W.  Perry. 

In  the  summer  of  1885  the  school  was  reorg-anized, 
and  became  known  as  Sioux  Falls  University.     Rev.  E. 

B.  Meredith  was  elected  president,  and  Rev.  Edward 
Ellis,  financial  secretary.  Both  resig-ned  their  former 
positions  as  pastor  and  g-eneral  missionary,  and  entered 
heartily  into  the  work  to  which  they  were  called.  The 
building-  was  completed  at  a  cost  of  $16,000,  and  the 
educational  and  financial  work  of  the  school  was  pushed 
forward  with  g-reat  earnestness  and  zeal.     Miss  M.  L. 


232         THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

Fulling-ton,  of  Vermont,  was  added  to  the  faculty. 
Mrs.  P.  W.  Perry,  the  preceptress,  died  suddenly, 
December  3,  1885.  After  her  death  her  husband 
resigned.  The  faculty  was  reorg-anized  in  the  midst 
of  the  term,  and  the  year's  work  was  carried  on 
successfully. 

Rev.  Edward  Ellis  resig-ned  Aug-ust  1,  1886,  as  finan- 
cial secretary,  to  accept  an  appointment  as  district 
secretary,  from  the  American  Baptist  Home  Mission 
Society.  This  left  the  entire  burden  of  financial 
responsibility  resting*  on  the  president.  The  school 
year  opened  with  a  faculty  consisting-  of  the  president. 
Prof.  H.  J.  Vosburgf,  now  principal  of  Wayland  Acad- 
emy, at  Beaver  Dam,  Wis.,  Dr.  A.  H.  Tufts,  Miss 
Carrie  E.  Lawrence,  preceptress,  and  Miss  M.  L.  Full- 
ing-ton. The*  president  spent  several  months  in  the 
east  raising-  funds  to  apply  on  indebtedness.  A  loan  of 
$3,000  was  secured  from  Mr.  J.  D.  Rockefeller.  In 
1887  Prof.  P.  J.  Walsh  became  a  member  of  the  faculty 
and  remained  seven  years.  He  was  a  model  teacher, 
and  did  much  to  mould  the  character  and  increase  the 
effectiveness  of  the  school. 

In  succeeding-  years  the  faculty  has  been  composed 
of  able  and  experienced  teachers,  including-  Professors 
Geo.  F.  Wilkin,  Charles  J.  Ives,  R.  R.  Putnam,  H.  E. 
Brown,  Z.  C.  Trask,  O.  W.  Moore,  J.  B.  Meredith, 
E.  A.  Ufford,  S.  L.  Brown,  C.  W.  Henry,  E.  B.  McKay, 
A.  B.  Price,  J.  D.  Gardner,  Mrs.  P.'  J.  Walsh,  Mrs. 
J.  B.  Meredith,  Miss  Mary  Wadsworth,  Miss  Flora  E. 
Harris,  Miss  Emma  Hicks,  Miss  H.  D.  E.  Hall,  Miss 
Genevieve  Blair,  Miss  Mary  E.  Price,  Miss  M.  L.  Paul, 
Miss  Grace  I.  Post  and  others. 

At  the  first  election  of  trustees  the  following-  persons 
constituted    the    board:     Rev.    E.    B.    Meredith,    Rev. 


REV.  E.  B.  MEREDITH, 

PASTOR    FIRST   BAPTIST  CHURCH,    SIOUX   FALLS, 

DECEMBER   23,    1S82,  TO    SEPTEMBER    I,    1SS5. 

PRESIDENT  SIOUX   FALLS   COLLEGE, 

SEPTEMBER    I,    1885,  TO  JANUARY    I,    1895. 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OP  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  233 

Edward  Ellis,  Rev.  J.  P.  Coffman,  Hon.  W.  W.  Brook- 
ings, Hon.  H.  H.  Keith,  M.  J.  L^wis,  Rev.  G.  W. 
Freeman,  B.  F.  Roderick,  J.  B.  Young,  E.  P.  Beebe, 
Peter  Morse,  and  E.  T.  Cressey.  Other  trustees  have 
been  as  follows:  E.  A.  Sherman,  C.  E.  Baker,  Geo. 
Morehouse,  Chas.  R.  Dean,  Rev.  Jacob  Olsen,  John 
Sutherland,  G.  A.  Uline,  J.  G.  Eddy,  J.  T.  Hamilton, 
Z.  C.  Trask,  Rev.  R.  N.  Van  Doren,  C.  E.  McKinney, 
O.  W.  Thompson,  and  Rev.  T.  M.  Shanafelt.  Rev. 
Edward  Ellis,  and  Hon.  H.  H.  Keith  have  served  as 
president  of  the  board  of  trustees;  Rev.  E.  B.  Meredith 
and  J.  G.  Eddy  as  secretary,  and  E.  A.  Sherman, 
Martin  J.  Eewis  and  Z.  C.  Trask  as  treasurer. 

Among  those  outside  of  the  state  who  have  made 
large  contributions  towards  the  erection  of  the  college 
building  and  the  expenses  of  the  institution,  are  J.  A. 
Bostwick,  J.  B.  Trevor  and  J.  D.  Rockefeller  of  New 
York;  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Bishop  of  New  Jersey,  and 
J.  B.  Hoyt  of  Stamford,  Conn.  Within  the  state  gen- 
erous assistance  has  been  rendered,  in  some  cases  fre- 
quently, by  Martin  J.  Lewis,  G.  W.  Freeman,  E.  B. 
Meredith,  H.  H.  Keith,  Geo.  Morehouse,  W.  W.  Brook- 
ings, E.  A.  Sherman,  A.  C.  Phillips,  Mrs.  Hattie 
Phillips,  E.  P.  Beebe,  Peter  Morse,  Edwin  E.  Sage, 
and  others. 

The  first  class  graduated  from  the  academic  depart- 
ment in  1886.  Each  succeeding  year  the  graduating 
class  has  ranged  in  number  from  three  to  fifteen. 
These  students  have  reflected  great  credit  upon  the 
institution,  and  many  of  them  are  filling  places  of  honor 
and  responsibility  in  the  various  professions  which 
they  have  adopted,  or  in  business  life.  Several  grad- 
uates have  entered  the  ministry,  and  are  preaching  the 
gospel  successfully  in  South  Dakota  and  other  states. 


234  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

The  financial  panic  of  1893,  and  the  long-  continued 
droug-ht  throug^hout  the  state  so  seriously  crippled 
some  of  the  burden-bearing-  friends  of  the  school,  that 
President  E.  B.  Meredith  tendered  his  resig-nation 
January  1,  1895.  Professor  P.  J.  Walsh  also  severed 
his  relation  with  the  colleg-e,  after  seven  years  of  faith- 
ful and  self-sacrificing-  service.  Rev.  E.  B.  Meredith 
was  identified  with  the  institution,  nearly  all  of  the  time 
as  president,  during-  a  period  of  twelve  years.  Some 
of  the  later  3^ears  were  devoted  larg-ely  to  eiforts  to 
secure  financial  support,  and  thus  help  to  maintain  the 
existence  of  the  school.  Much  of  this  period  he  bore 
without  flinching-  or  complaining  the  larg-er  part  of  the 
financial  burden,  until  it  became  too  heavy  for  any  one 
friend  and  helper  of  the  colleg-e  to  carry.  A  very 
important  part  of  the  work  of  establishing-  an  institu- 
tion of  learning-  is  foundational  in  its  character.  The 
founder  of  any  important  enterprise  is  often  lost  to 
sig-ht  in  the  foundation.  The  value  of  the  services 
rendered  is  not  fully  known,  and  is  therefore  not  cor- 
rectly understood  nor  appreciated.  Comparatively  few 
have  had  a  just  conception  of  the  services  rendered  to 
Sioux  Palls  Colleg-e  by  President  Meredith.  Not  many 
have  fully  understood  or  appreciated  his  unflinching- 
loyalty  and  devotion  to  its  interests,  his  constant 
anxiety  for  its  prosperity,  and  his  personal  sacrifices 
to  promote  its  welfare. 

After  the  resig-nation  of  President  Meredith  and 
Professor  Walsh,  the  faculty  was  re-org-anized,  and 
Professor  E.  A.  Ufford  became  principal.  At  the  end 
of  one  year  of  successful  service,  he  went  to  Germany 
for  a  year  of  study  in  special  departments,  and  Pro- 
fessor E.  B.  McKay  became  his  successor.  After  the 
death    of    Professor    McKay    the    present    principal. 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  235 

Professor  A.  B.  Price,  was  appointed.  He  has  been 
earnestly  devoted  to  the  interests  of  the  colleg*e. 
Associated  with  him  is  a  faculty  of  thoroug-hly  qualified 
and  experienced  teachers,  who  are  rendering-  excellent 
service  to  the  institution. 

When  the  school  was  first  established,  in  1883,  it  was 
called  the  Dakota  Collegiate  Institute.  After  a  couple 
of  years,  throug-h  local  influence  at  Sioux  Palls,  a  new 
name  was  g-iven  to  the  institution,  and  it  became  known 
as  Sioux  Palls  University.  Like  nearly  all  western 
schools  of  hig-her  learning-,  it  has  long-  been  handi- 
capped by  an  overshadowing-  name  it  oug-ht  never  to 
have  borne.  It  is  the  earnest  desire  and  hope  of  its 
friends  that  it  shall  be  in  the  fullest  sense  a  coUeg-e,' 
but  no  one  anticipates  that  it  will  have  associated  with 
it  the  various  schools  of  medicine,  law,  theolog-y,  and 
other  departments  that  would  properly  constitute  it  a 
university.  Thus  far  during-  its  history,  it  has,  from 
financial  causes  been  limited  to  doing-  mainly,  the 
work  of  an  academy,  and  this  it  has  done  with  com- 
mendable thoroug-hness  and  efficiency.  In.  addition  to 
this,  several  students  have  been  taken  throug-h  a  reg-ular 
colleg-e  course  of  study  to  the  end  of  the  sophomore 
year.  Recently  the  board  of  trustees  have  arrang-ed  to 
have  the  charter  so  changed  that  henceforth  the  name 
of  the  Baptist  institution  of  learning  in  South  Dakota 
shall  be  Sioux  Palls  College. 

The  college  is  admirably  located  in  a  campus  of  sev- 
eral acres,  on  elevated  ground,  in  the  south  side  of  the 
city.  It  is  an  imposing-  building,  seventy-six  feet  long 
and  forty  feet  wide,  three  stories  high  and  a  basement, 
and  is  built  of  Sioux  Palls  grahite.  Its  record  has 
been  one  of  efficient  and  self  sacrificing  service  on  the 
part  of  its  faculty.     Its  graduates  are  men  and  women 


236  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OP  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

of  influence  and  prominence  in  South  Dakota  and  the 
northwest.  It  has  been,  and  is  now,  embarrassed  by  an 
indebtedness  which  ought  to  be  speedily  removed. 
With  freedom  from  debt,  and  a  reasonable  endowment, 
it  will  be  prepared  to  do  full  colleg^e  work,  and  thus 
increase  its  efficiency  and  usefulness. 

While  Baptists  in  South  Dakota  established  a  Bap- 
tist colleg-e  at  Sioux  Palls,  representatives  of  the 
denomination  have  been  prominent  in  the  establishment 
and  administration  of  some  of  the  state  institutions  of 
learning-.  A  Baptist,  Dr.  Ephraim  M.  Epstein,  laid 
the  foundations  of  the  state  university,  located  at  Ver- 
million. Dr.  Epstein  was  a  native  of  Russia,  thor- 
oughly educated,  a  linguist  of  the  highest  order,  being 
a  master  of  many  languages,  and  an  enthusiast  in  all 
matters  pertaining  to  education.  It  was  his  earnest 
desire  to  establish  a  university  for  the  higher  educa- 
tion of  the  young  people  of  Dakota  Territory.  The 
territorial  legislature,  in  1862,  passed  an  act  locating  a 
university  at  Vermillion,  but  it  was  twenty  years 
before  it  was  in  operation.  In  1881,  congress  passed 
an  act  setting  apart  seventy-two  sections  of  public  land 
for  its  endowment. 

After  serving  for  some  time  as  pastor  at  Yankton, 
early  in  1882  he  resigned,  and  spent  some  months  trav- 
eling over  the  southern  counties  of  the  territory,  to 
awaken  an  interest  among  the  people  in  the  contem- 
plated university.  Its  first  session  opened  at  Vermil- 
lion, October  16,  1882.  Dr.  Epstein  was  its  first  pres- 
ident. Through  his  great  energy  and  zeal  he  con- 
ducted it  successfully  to  the  end  of  its  first  year.  An 
official  report  concerning  the  work  done  makes  this 
statement:  "The  trustees  are  entirely  satisfied  with 
the  school.     It  has  been  successfully  managed.     The 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  237 

students  also  showed  their  satisfaction  by  returning*  in 
large  numbers  at  the  opening-  of  the  following-  school 
year."  Miss  Carrie  Lawrence,  one  of  the  members  of 
the  faculty,  was  also  a  Baptist.  While  the  citizens  of 
the  territory  and  the  students  were  satisfied  wdth  the 
administration  of  Dr.  Epstein,  there  was  in  that  early 
period  an  exhibition  of  the  peculiar  methods  sometimes 
adopted  by  the  manag-ing-  boards  of  state  institutions. 
The  one  to  whom,  above  all  others,  credit  was  due  for 
the  successful  establishment  of  the  school,  and  its  first 
prosperous  year,  was  removed  from  the  office  of  presi- 
dent, and  another  one  chosen  in  his  place.  During-  the 
second  year  he  remained  as  a  member  of  the  faculty, 
and  at  its  close  he  was  dropped  from  the  list  of  teach- 
ers. Many  friends  of  the  institution  deeply  reg-retted 
the  discourtesy  and  ingratitude  exhibited  towards  its 
founder. 

Edward  Olsen,  Ph.  D.,  the  third  president  of  the 
state  university,  was  a  Baptist.  At  the  time  of  his 
election  to  this  responsible  station  he  was  a  professor 
in  the  old  Chicag-o  University.  His  profound  scholar- 
ship and  g-reat  administrative  ability  placed  him  in  the 
hig-hest  rank  among-  the  leading-  educators  of  the  north- 
west. He  served  as  president  until  his  untimely  death 
in  Minneapolis,  November  3,  1889.  He  lost  his  life  in 
the  disastrous  fire  which  destroyed  the  building-  occu- 
pied by  the  Minneapolis  Tribune.  His  successor.  Rev. 
Howard  B.  Grose,  D.  D.,  was  also  a  Baptist.  J.  W. 
Heston,  LL.  D.,  president  of  the  state  ag-ricultural  col- 
leg-e  at  Brooking-s,  is  a  Baptist;  so  also  is  Prof.  J.  S. 
Frazee,  A.  M.,  president  of  the  state  normal  school 
located  at  Spring-field.  A  fair  proportion  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  faculty  in  each  of  the  state  institutions  are 
Baptists. 


CHAPTER  XXIIl. 


DAKOTA  OR  SIOUX  INDIANS. 

There  are  about  two  hundred  and  eig-hty  tribes  of 
Indians  in  the  United  States.  In  a  g-eneral  classifica- 
tion they  are  grouped  under  a  few  comprehensive 
names  or  families.  The  three  great  confederations  of 
the  Algonquin,  Lenape  and  Iroquois  Indians,  including 
numeious  tribal  sub-divisions,  long  ago  controlled  all 
of  the  country  between  the  Atlantic  Ocean  and  the 
Mississippi  river.  Westward  from  Lake  Superior  and 
Ivake  Michigan,  and  from  the  Mississippi  river  to  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  were  found  the  numerous^  tribes 
known  under  the  general  name  of  the  Dakota  Indians. 
During  a  long  period  there  were  numerous  conflicts 
between  the  Algonquins  and  Iroquois  of  the  east  and 
the  Dakotas  of  the  northwest,  but  the  Indians  of  the 
plain  were  always  able  to  repel  the  aggressive  invaders 
of  their  territory.  It  was  not  until  the  eastern  Indian 
nations  abandoned  in  large  measure  the  use  of  the  bow 
and  arrow,  and  adopted  the  white  man's  weapons  of 
warfare,  that  they  were  able  to  make  serious  encroach- 
ments on  the  country  of  the  Dakotas,  and  gain  a  foot- 
hold west  of  the  great  lakes  and  the  Mississippi  river. 
At  length  the  Algonquins  pressed  the  Dakotas  west- 
ward, as  all  red  men  were  afterwards  driven  westward 
by  the  white  race  towards  the  setting  sun. 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  239 

The  Dakota  Indians  orig-inally  occupied  all  of  the 
valley  of  the  Missouri,  at  least  as  far  south  as  the 
Arkansas  river.  Along-  linquistic  lines  their  principal 
divisions  were  the  Winnebag-oes  on  the  east,  the  Crows 
on  the  west,  and  the  Mandans,  Otoes  and  Omahas  along" 
the  Missouri  river.  It  was  after  the  frequent  and 
bloody  conflicts  between  the  Dakotas  and  the  Alg-on- 
quins,  which  took  place  near  the  close  of  the  seven- 
teenth century,  that  the  former  g-reat  confederation 
began  to  slowly  disinteg-rate,  and  was  broken  up  into 
smaller  g-roups  of  families  or  tribes. 

The  name  Dakota  sig-nifies  allied  or  confederated, 
having-  reference  to  the  various  tribes  that  were  united 
tog-ether.  The  most  powerful  of  these  tribes  or  nations 
were  the  Sioux  Indians.  Between  the  Ojibway  and 
Dakota  Indians  there  was  constant  warfare  for  many 
years.  The  former  always  referred  to  the  latter  as 
Nadowysioux,  or  Nadsuessioux,  to  sig-nify  that  they 
were  enemies.  This  word,  which  afterward  was  abbre- 
viated to  Sioux,  in  process  of  time  became  the  name  by 
which  these  Indians  are  known. 

According-  to  the  census  of  1890,  there  are  now  in 
South  Dakota  19,792  Sioux  Indians,  representing-,  under 
this  g-eneral  name,  a  score  or  more  of  Indian  tribes. 
Among-  these  are  many  of  the  most  celebrated  Indian 
warriors  in  the  United  States.  They  have  been 
eng-ag-ed  in  many  conflicts,  but  throug-h  the  restraining- 
influence  of  military  forts,  and  detachments  of  the 
reg-ular  army  located  near  their  reservations,  they  have 
made  no  hostile  demonstration  since  the  Indian  war  in 
1890,  and  the  battle  of  Wounded  Knee.  Prom  three  to 
four  thousand  of  these  Indians  participated  in  the 
massacre  of  General  Custer  and  his  command,  in  1876. 
One  of  these  afterward  went  south,  and  was  converted 


240  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

in  Texas,  became  a  Baptist,  and  has  since  been  known 
as  Rev.  Pelix  Mays.     His  Indian  name  was  Plata. 

In  the  first  two  chapters  of  this  volume  frequent 
reference  was  made  to  the  hostile  attitude  of  the 
Indians,  and  numerous  raids  made  by  them  ag'ainst  the 
early  settlements.  As  the  result  of  military  operations 
led  by  Generals  Harney,  Sully  and  Sibley,  and  the 
enforcement  of  several  treaties  made  with  the  Indians, 
they  were  compelled  to  abandon  the  lands  which  they 
had  ceded  to  the  government,  and  remove  to  Indian 
reservations.  The  larg-est  of  these  reservations  is 
west  of  the  Missouri  river.  It  originally  comprised 
over  twenty-two  millions  of  acres.  By  the  terms  of  a 
treaty  made  with  them  in  1889,  one-half  of  this  reserva- 
tion was  thrown  open  to  settlement.  Many  Indians  are 
also  living-  on  what  were  formerly  known  as  the  Sisse- 
ton  and  Yankton  reservations.  In  these  localities,  and 
also  near  Plandreau,  many  of  them  dissolved  their 
tribal  relations,  and  have  taken  land  in  severalty.  They 
have  adopted  the  customs  of  their  white  neighbors,  and 
are  known  as  civilized  Indians.  As  they  have  property 
in  their  own  right,  they  are  subject  to  taxation,  and 
have  the  right  to  vote  as  citizens  of  the  state.  Accord- 
ing to  the  last  census  the  number. of  civilized  or  self- 
supporting  Indians  was  784. 

There  are  six  general  Indian  agencies  in  the  state, 
each  one  representing  several  tribes,  and  consisting  of 
from  1,500  to  5,500  Indians.  They  are  as  follows:  Pine 
Ridge,  Rosebud,  Cheyenne  River,  Yankton,  Sisseton, 
and  Crow  Creek  and  Lower  Brule.  At  each  of  these 
agencies  some  of  the  Indians  live  in  comfortable  houses, 
while  many  of  those  to  whom  buildings  have  been  sup- 
plied by  the  government,  prefer  to  live  in  tepees.  The 
more  civilized  among  them  live  near  the  agencies,  but 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  241 

the  wild  or  uncivilized  live  near  the  borders  of  their 
reservation,  preferring-  to  be  as  far  away  as  possible 
from  restraining-  influences.  On  each  reservation  the 
g-overnment  has  established  a  number  of  schools.  At 
these  g-overnment  schools  attendance  is  compulsory. 
The  education  furnished  is  non-sectarian. 

Missionary  work  has  been  successfully  conducted  for 
many  years  among-  the  Indians  of  South  Dakota,  by  the 
Roman  Catholics,  the  Episcopalians,  the  Presbyterians 
and  the  Cong-reg-ationalists.  The  earliest  missions 
were  established  by  the  Roman  Catholics,  and  they 
have  prosecuted  their  work  vig-orously.  The  number 
of  their  church  org-anizations  and  members  is  larg-e, 
but  cannot  be  g-iven  here,  since  promised  detailed 
statistical  information  has  not  been  received.  Bishop 
Hare,  of  the  Episcopal  church,  since  his  appointment 
in  1873,  has  been  an  active  leader  in  missionary  and 
educational  work  among-  the  Indians.  The  number  of 
Episcopal  churches  on  these  reservations  is  not 
reported,  but  there  are  2,752  Indian  communicants. 
Six  prosperous  Indian  schools  are  maintained.  Among- 
the  Indian  tribes  the  Presbyterians  have  21  churches, 
1331  members,  17  houses  of  worship  and  601  members 
in  their  Sunday  schools.  One  of  their  churches  is  in 
North  Dakota,  and  another  is  in  Montana.  The  Con- 
g-reg-ationalists have  in  South  Dakota  and  North  Dakota, 
and  at  the  Santee  ag-ency  in  Nebraska,  eleven  churches, 
618  members;  and  a  Sunday  school  membership  of  1161. 

Baptists  have  never  attempted  to  prosecute  mis- 
sionary work  among-  the  Dakota  or  Sioux  Indians.  The 
occasion  for  this  omission  to  undertake  such  a  move-^ 
ment  dates  back  to  what  was  called  the  "peace  policy" 
of  General  Grant.  When  he  was  President  of  the 
United   States,    he   desired   to   see   different   methods 

16 


242  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

employed  in  caring*  for  the  Indians.  A  Board  of  Indian 
Commissioners  was  appointed,  who  had  general  super- 
vision of  Indian  affairs.  After  consultation  with  repre- 
sentatives of  the  various  missionary  societies  then 
prosecuting"  their  work  among  the  Indians  throughout 
the  country,  it  was  decided  that  the  Indian  reservations 
should  be  alloted  to  these  societies,  each  having  a 
certain  number  of  them  in  charg-e.  As  a  g'eneral  rule 
the  denomination  that  was  doing*  the  larg-est  amount  of 
missionary  and  educational  work  on  a  reservation  had 
that  reservation  assigned  to  it. 

The  Indian  tribes  assigned  to  the  American  Baptist 
Home  Mission  Society  were  those  among  whom  it  was 
already  doing  missionary  work,  in  Indian  Territory 
and  Nevada.  The  various  missionary  societies  were 
requested  to  nominate  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior 
suitable  men  for  appointment  as  Indian  agents  on  these 
reservations,  thus  taking  the  oversight  and  manage- 
ment of  the  Indian  tribes  from  government  officials 
who  were  simply  politicians,  and  putting  them  under 
the  control  of  Christian  men.  This  policy  was  adopted 
in  1870,  and  carried  into  effect  in  1871.  It  proved 
effective  for  several  years,  until  Hon.  Carl  Schurz 
became  Secretary  of  the  Interior  in  1877.  Having  no 
sympathy  whatever  with  religious  things,  he  cared 
nothing  for  the  recommendation  of  missionary  societies. 
During  his  term  of  office  the  system  adopted  in  1870 
ceased  to  be  operative,  and  afterwards-  it  was  not 
resumed. 

This  policy  was  adopted  when  there  were  only  two 
Baptist  Churches,  and  no  Baptist  minister,  except 
Chaplain  Crocker,  in  Dakota  Territory.  Rev.  G.  W. 
Freeman  became  general  ;iiissionary  the  following 
year,  but  his  efforts  were   necessarily  limited  to  the 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  243 

early  missionary  work  needed  in  the  new  colonies  and 
settlements  that  had  been  established.  Meanwhile 
the  plan  adopted  was  in  successful  operation,  and  to 
the  four  religious  organizations  heretofore  named,  had 
been  assigned  the  Sioux  Indian  tribes  of  Dakota. 
Though  as  a  rule  of  action  the  system  is  no  longer 
binding,  yet  other  denominations  have  felt  a  moral 
obligation  to  act  according  to  the  spirit  of  the 
agreement. 

The  work  that  has  thus  far  been  done  to  educate  and 
evangelize  the  nearly  twenty  thousand  Indians  in 
South  Dakota  has  produced  gratifying  results.  There 
is  less  opposition  by  parents,  than  formerly,  to  the 
compulsory  feature  of  education  in  the  government 
schools.  The  older  Indians  have  come  to  understand 
the  advantages  that  their  children  have  over  their  par- 
ents. An  increasingly  large  number  each  year  are 
becoming  farmers,  and  as  they  progress  towards  self 
support,  they  cease  to  be  indolent  and  dependent 
"wards  of  the  nation."  Fewer  pagan  rites  are 
observed,  since  many  of  them  have  come  to  know  a 
new  and  a  better  way  to  invoke  the  Great  Spirit.  It  is 
a  slow  process,  but  the  Indian  is  gradually  progressing 
in  intelligence  and  towards  a  condition  of  self  reliance, 
and  its  final  result,  citizenship. 

To  General  T.  J.  Morgan,  formerly  Commissioner 
of  Indian  Affairs,  and  now  Corresponding  Secretary 
of  the  American  Baptist  Home  Mission  Society,  is 
due  the  credit  of  properly  developing  the  Indian  school 
system,  and  improving  the  efficiency  of  the  Indian 
service.  His  carefully  laid  plans  are  bearing  fruit  in 
South  Dakota.  The  people  who  were  once  savage  and 
untamed,  and,  taking  no  thought  for  the  morrow, 
pitched  their  tents  only  for  the  day,  are  slowly  rising 


244  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

to  a  hig-her  plane  of  existence,  and  g-aining-  a  better 
view  of  life.  The  time  will  come  when  they  will  be  ele- 
vated by  relig-ious  influences  above  the  low  moral  con- 
dition of  the  past,  and  qualified  by  education  and  train- 
ing* in  industrial  pursuits,  to  reach  a  condition  of  self 
support,  and  become  citizens  of  the  nation  that  has  so 
long  treated  them  as  wayward  and  dependent  children. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 


STATISTICAL  RETIE>\r. 

In  this  closing*  chapter  is  furnished  a  statistical 
showing-  of  Baptist  g-rowth  and  prog-ress  in  membership 
and  benevolence,  from  the  earliest  available  records 
until  the  present.  In  connection  with  this  review  are 
recorded  several  miscellaneous  items  of  historical 
interest,  and  brief  sketches  of  some  of  the  pioneers 
who,  having-  served  their  g-eneration  faithfully  and  well, 
have  been  mustered  out  of  service  and  are  at  rest. 

The  first  known  death  of  a  Baptist  minister  in  South 
Dakota,  was  that  of  Rev.  L.  Ross,  at  Goodwin,  in  1879, 
ag-ed  sixty-nine  years.  He  had  rendered  faithful  ser- 
vice for  many  years  in  other  states,  especially  in 
Minnesota.  A  short  time  before  his  death,  enfeebled 
in  health,  he  came  to  Goodwin,  to  spend  the  closing- 
days  of  his  life  with  his^  children. 

Rev.  A.  W.  Hilton  was  the  first  of  the  pioneer  mis- 
sionaries who  was  called  away  by  death.  He  was  born  at 
Alderman's  Green,  Warwickshire,  Eng-land,  May  26, 
1833.  On  reaching-  manhood  he  came  to  New  York,  and 
a  few  months  later  removed  to  Fairbanks,  la.  There 
he  was  ordained  in  November,  1865.  His  most  import- 
ant work  in  Iowa  was  during-  the  period  when  he  was 
pastor  at  Cherokee.  In  September,  1874,  he  came  to 
South  Dakota,  and  located  a  home  on  g-overnment  land 
near  Parker.     He  org-anized  the  First  Baptist  church 


246  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OP  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

at  Sioux  Palls,  and  was  its  first  pastor,  serving-  at  the 
same  time  as  pastor  at  Luverne,  Minn.  Other  pastor- 
ates were  at  Swan  Lake  (Hurley),  and  Pinley  (Parker). 
He  also  did  much  itinerant  missionary  work  in  many 
of  the  new  settlements  and  villag^es.  He  was  actively 
identified  with  every  movement  affecting-  the  welfare  of 
the  territory.  He  was  a  man  of  strong-  convictions,  and 
held  loyally  to  the  truth,  and  was  conscientious  in  the 
performance  of  every  duty.  He  was  an  able  preacher, 
and  a  dilig-ent  and  faithful  pastor.  He  died  September 
20,  1882. 

Rev.  Truman  H.  Judson  was  born  in  Burling-ton,  Vt., 
November  12,  1828.  His  early  years  were  spent  in 
Illinois.  When  a  young-  man  he  was  converted  and 
became  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  He 
served  seven  years  as  a  teacher  among  the  Choctaw  In- 
dians, in  Indian  Territory.  On  account  of  failing-  health, 
he  removed,  in  1858,  to  Nora  Spring-s,  la.  In  1860  he 
became  a  Baptist.  After  a  course  of  study  at  Burling- 
ton, la.,  he  was  ordained  in  1864.  His  first  field  of  labor 
was  a  larg-e  one,  including-  Franklin  county,  in  which  he 
org-anized  three  churches.  In  1872  he  came  to  Dakota 
Territory.  His  first  pastorate  was  at  Elk  Point,  and 
while  it  continued,  the  house  of  worship  there  was  built. 
In  October,  1873,  he  became  pastor  at  Vermillion. 
During-  the  three  years  of  his  faithful  service  there  the 
church  g-rew  in  numbers  and  increased  in  streng-th. 
He  was  also  pastor  at  Swan  Lake,  and  for  several  years 
frequently  soug-ht  destitute  fields,  and  preached  the 
g-ospel  to  the  people.  During-  a  temporary  absence 
from  Dakota,  he  org-anized  a  church  at  Doon,  la.,  and 
also  supplied  the  churches  at  Parkersburg-,  Spencer 
and  other  localities.  Returning-  to  Dakota,  he  was 
appointed    missionary   for    Minnehaha   county.     After 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  247 

brief  but  successful  service  there  he  returned,  broken 
in  health,  to  his  home  at  Hurley,  where  he  soon  after 
died,  March  15,  1884.  Among-  those  who  knew  him  he 
is  held  in  g-rateful  remembrance,  for  the  faithful  ser- 
vices that  he  rendered,  and  for  his  personal  worth. 

Rev.  J.  R.  Eldridg-e  was  born  in  Washington  county, 
New  York,  in  1807.  He  was  converted  in  early  life, 
and  after  gfraduating-  at  Colg-ate  University,  in  1833,  he 
entered  the  ministry.  In  1843,  he  came  to  Wisconsin. 
In  that  state  and  in  New  York  he  was  a  successful 
pastor  on  several  important  fields.  He  labored  also 
extensively  as  an  evang-elist.  It  was  his  privilege  to 
baptize  more  than  one  thousand  converts.  Peeling-  that 
his  work  was  finished,  he  came  to  Dakota  Territory  in 
1878,  to  spend  his  last  days  quietly  among-  relatives  and 
friends.  He  served  however,  as  pastor  at  Blooming-- 
dale,  and,  so  far  as  his  health  would  permit,  he  was  a 
welcome  supply  of  pastorless  churches.  He  came  to 
the  g-rave  in  a  full  ag-e,  like  a  shock  of  corn  fully  ripe, 
and  died  peacefully  and  triumphantly,  October  6,  1884. 

During-  nearly  all  of  the  years  of  Baptist  history  in 
South  Dakota  there  has  been  a  remarkable  exemption 
from  death  on  the  part  of  the  pastors  and  leading- 
helpers  in  the  churches.  Only  the  few  of  whom  men- 
tion has  been  made  had  passed  away  from  1864  to  1884. 
Following-  these  there  was  a  period  of  nearly  ten  years 
without  the  loss  of  one  while  in  active  service  in 
the  state.  In  the  death  of  Rev.  T.  J.  Schaefer,  at 
Yankton,  February  20,  1895,  there  went  out  a  brig-ht 
young-  life  full  of  promise  for  g-reat  usefulness.  He 
org-anized  the  German  church  at  Yankton  and  Scotland, 
and  was  its  successful  pastor.  Rev.  Aug-ust  Penski, 
pastor  of  the  German-Russian  church  at  Eureka,  died 
October  23,  1893.     Rev.  Geo.  H.  Carstens,    pastor   of 


248  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

the  German  church  at  Big-  Stone  City,  died  July  13, 
1896.  Reference  has  been  made  elsewhere  to  the  death 
of  Professor  Hardy  C.  Stone,  February  11,  1885,  while 
rendering"  most  efficient  service  in  the  management  of 
the  Baptist  school  at  Sioux  Palls.  One  of  the  most 
successful  pastors  of  later  years  was  Rev.  W.  H. 
Stifler,  D.  D.,  who  died  suddenly  at  Sioux  Palls, 
Aug-ust  8,  1895.  He  was  an  able  preacher,  and  one  of 
the  best  of  Bible  students.  Rev.  Geo.  W.  Preeman, 
who  came  to  Dakota  Territory  in  1871,  and  was  the 
first  g-eneral  missionary,  died  at  Elk  Point,  March  13, 
1895.  Extended  reference  is  made  to  his  life  and  work 
and  character,  and  also  to  the  services  rendered  by 
Rev.  Edward  Ellis,  in  one  of  the  early  chapters  of  this 
volume. 

Of  the  many  well-known  Baptist  laymen,  who  have 
been  prominent  in  denominational  and  educational 
work,  the  one  long-est  identified  with  South  Dakota  was 
Martin  J.  Lewis.  He  was  born  in  Berg-en,  Genesee 
county,  N.  Y.,  Pebruary  13,  1843.  In  his  early  man- 
hood he  went  to  Madison,  Wis.,  and  entered  the  office 
of  his  uncle,  Hon.  J.  T.  Lewis,  then  secretary  of  state 
and  afterwards  g-overnor.  In  1869,  he  came  to  Dakota 
and  identified  himself  with  the  interests  of  Vermillion. 
He  was  successful  in  acquiring-  wealth,  but  he  valued 
it  mainly  for  what  it  could  accomplish.  He  was  in 
active  sympathy  with  every  g-ood  work,  especially  the 
Baptist  church  and  Sunday  school  at  Vermillion,  and 
the  Baptist  educational  interests  at  Sioux  Palls,  to  all 
of  which  he  gave  liberally  and  frequently..  When  the 
first  Baptist  association  in  the  territory  was  org-anized, 
in  1872,  he  was  elected  secretary.  He  served  as  treas- 
urer of  Sioux  Palls  Colleg-e  eig-ht  years,  from  1887, 
and  was  treasurer  of  the  state  convention  three  years. 


MAHTIN  J.  LiEW^IS, 

TREASURER   OF  SIOUX   FALLS   COLLEGE,    1SS7-189S. 
TREASURER    OF  SOUTH    DAKOTA   BAPTIST   CONVENTION,    1893-4-5. 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OP  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  249 

from  1893,  filling-  both  positions  until  his  death.  After 
more  than  a  year  of  absence  from  home  and  country, 
on  an  extended  tour  throug-h  Europe,  Eg-ypt  and  Pales- 
tine, he  had  landed  at  New  York,  and  was  making- 
preparations  for  starting-  home,  when  he  was  suddenly 
prostrated  by  serious  illness,  and  died,  June  20,  1896. 
This  unexpected  event  occasioned  wide-spread  sorrow 
among-  all  who  knew  him,  and  appreciated  him  for  what 
he  was  and  what  he  did.  While  always  a  g-enerous 
g-iver  to  every  worthy  object,  he  had  planned  to  make 
larg-er  g-ifts  to  missions  and  education  and  to  the  cause 
at  home. 

Edward  Olsen,  Ph.  D.,  third  president  of  the  State 
University,  was  born  in  Norway,  Aug-ust  29,  1847. 
While  yet  a  boy  he  came,  with  his  parents,  to  Wiscon- 
sin. Prom  early  childhood  he  had  an  intense  desire  to 
secure  an  education.  He  was  g-raduated  with  hig-hest 
honors  from  Chicago  University  in  1873.  Two  years 
were  then  spent  in  study  in  Germany  and  Prance.  He 
completed  the  course  of  theolog-ical  study  at  Chicag-o  in 
1876,  and  was  elected  professor  of  modern  lang-uag-es  in 
Chicago  University.  Some  time  after  this  he  succeeded 
Dr.  Boise  as  professor  of  Greek.  When  the  old  uni- 
versity ended  its  existence,  he  was  called  to  a  profess- 
orship in  the  theolog-ical  seminary.  It  was  while 
occupying-  this  position  that  he  was  chosen  president  of 
the  state  university  of  South  Dakota,  in  June,  1887. 
The  official  report  of  the  Board  of  Reg-ents  makes  this 
declaration  concerning-  him:  "Edward  Olsen  was  re- 
markable in  personality  and  scholarship.  He  was  a 
natural  leader,  and  a  born  teacher.  His  energ-y  and 
enthusiasm  were  contag-ious.  His  character  was  Chris- 
tian, inspiring-,  and  uplifting*.  His  work  for  the 
university,  will   be  lasting-  in  its  results.     The  rapid 


250  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

progress  made  in  the  brief  period  of  its  administration 
is,  in  many  respects,  without  a  parallel  in  educa- 
tional annals.  He  was  the  founder  of  the  institution 
in  its  present  character  and  scope.  He  placed  the 
coUeg-iate  department  upon  the  hig-hest  plane,  created 
a  faculty,  zealous,  able  and  devoted,  and  g-athered  a 
body  of  nearly  five  hundred  students,  impressing*  upon 
the  entire  institution  his  own  noble,  g'enerous,  and 
scholarly  spirit."  To  human  understanding*,  it  would 
seem  that  the  loss  of  such  a  man  is  irreparable, 
especially  as  he  was  taken  away  in  his  prime,  when  he 
was  at  his  best  in  physical  streng-th  and  intellectual 
vig-or.  He  lost  his  life,  November  3,  1889,  during-  a 
visit  to  Minneapolis,  while  trying*  to  escape  from  the 
burning-  building-  occupied  by  the  Minneapolis  Tribune. 
There  are  five  Seventh  Day  Baptist  churches  in  the 
state,  located  in  the  vicinity  of  Big-  Spring-s,'Plandreau, 
Dell  Rapids,  Viborg-,  and  Parker.  One  is  an  American 
church,  one  Swedish,  one  German  and  two  Danish. 
They  have  three  pastors,  and  about  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  members.  The  church  near  Plandreau  has 
a  house  of  worship.  There  are  three  free-will  Baptist 
churches  located  at  Sioux  Palls,  Clear  Lake '  and 
Garretson.  They  have  about  two  hundred  members. 
There  are  three  German-Russian  churches,  near 
Bridg-ewater,  Wittenberg-  and  Parker,  which  separated 
several  years  ag-o  from  the  Mennonites,  because  they 
desired  to  adhere  more  closely  to  scriptural  authority 
as  to  doctrine  and  church  polity.  Thoug-h  not  included 
among-  Baptists,  they  are  in  hearty  sympathy  with 
them.  Their  articles  of  faith  clearly  show  that  they  do 
not  differ  from  Baptists  in  any  respect  except  that  they 
believe  in  feet  washing-  as  a  relig-ious  service,  and  that 
the  scriptures  make  it  a  relig-ious  duty  to  '*g-reet  the 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  251 

brethren  with  a  holy  kiss."  Each  of  these  churches 
has  about  seventy  members,  a  house  of  worship,  and  a 
flourishing-  Sunday  school.  There  are  several  colonies 
of  Mennonites  in  the  state.  These  people  differ  more 
or  less  among-  themselves,  in  belief  and  practice,  but 
many  of  them  worship  with  Baptists,  and,  except  on 
some  minor  points,  are  in  close  touch  and  sympathy 
with  them. 

The  state  org-anization  of  the  Baptist  Young-  People's 
Union  of  South  Dakota,  was  effected,  at  Sioux  Falls, 
October  3,  1891.  It  is  auxiliary  to  the  South  Dakota 
Baptist  Convention,  and  holds  its  annual  meeting's  in 
connection  with  the  anniversaries  of  the  convention. 
The  following-  persons  have  served  as  its  officers: 
President,  L.  Sisson,  Sioux  Palls ;.D.  P.  Ward,  Sioux 
Falls;  Rev.  S.  D.  Works,  Huron;  Rev.  C.  M.  Cline, 
Madison;  and  Rev.  F.  W.  Cliffe,  Aberdeen.  Secretary, 
Miss  Lottie  Eno,  Eg-an;  Miss  Abbie  E.  Ross,  Brook- 
ing-s;  Miss  Elnora  B.  Pleasants,  Aberdeen;  and  Mrs. 
A.  G.  Hislop,  Parker.  Treasurer,  Miss  Florence 
Ramer,  Huron;  Miss  Mary  Hansen,  Vermillion;  Mr. 
Adolph  Ewart,  Pierre;  Mrs.  W.  R.  Link,  Huron;  and 
Rev.  J.  F.  Blodg-ett,  Bryant. 

Among-  the  Baptists  who  have  been  elected  or 
appointed  to  important  public  positions  in  the  territory 
and  state  are  the  following-:  Rev.  J.  J.  Mclntire, 
Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction,  Dakota  Terri- 
tory; Hon.  Charles  M.  Thomas,  Justice  of  the  Supreme 
Court,  Dakota  Territory,  afterwards  elected  District 
Judg-e,  Black  Hills  District;  Rev.  Geo.  H.  Parker, 
Deputy  State  Superintendent  Public  Instruction. 
Members  of  the  territorial  leg-islature.  Rev.  Albert 
Gore,  Wm.  Shriner,  Dr.  E.  O.  Stevens,  Joseph  L. 
Berry,  A.  C.  Huetson,  Rev.  N.  Tychsen,  I.  Atkinson, 


252  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

and  H.  H.  Keith.  The  last  named  was  elected  speaker. 
State  leg-islature,  Senators  I.  H.  Newby,  D.  O.  Bennett, 
C.  C.  Wrig-ht,  T.  C.  Else,  Geo.  W.  Case.  Representa- 
tives, C.  R.  Wescott*  Georg-e  Watson,  R.  J.  Odell. 
The  following-  Baptist  ministers  have  served  as  chap- 
lain in  the  leg-islature,  Iv.  P.  Judson,  T.  H.  Judson, 
J.  P.  Coffman,  Jas.  Buchanan,  D.  R.  Landis,  and  G.  S. 
Cleveng-er. 

The  following-  list  includes  the  names  of  all  Baptist 
churches  now  in  existence  in  the  state;  the  date  of  its 
org-anization,  the  date  of  the  dedication  of  its  house  of 
worship,  and,  so  far  as  it  has  been  possible  to  ascertain 
it,  the  date  of  the  org-anization  of  its  Sunday  school.  In 
a  few  cases,  where  two  dates  are  g-iven,  they  indicate 
that  the  first  org-anization  became  extinct,  and  a  new 
one  was  afterward  formed.  The  church  at  Armour 
was  orig-inally  org-anized  at  Huston.  It  was  afterward 
removed  to  Armour  and  reorg-anized  there.  At  Oldham 
there  was  formerly  two  churches,  one  American  and 
one  Scandinavian.  In  1897  they  were  consolidated.  On 
account  of  a  chang-e  of  location,  or  a  chang-e  in  the  name 
of  some  of  the  early  established  villag"es  and  settle- 
ments, in  a  score  or  more  of  cases,  the  present  names 
of  churches  are  not  the  same  as  those  under  which  they 
were  org-anized,  and  orig-inally  reported  to  their  asso- 
ciations. Where  two  dates  are  g-iven  for  the  dedication 
of  church  homes,  they  indicate  that  some  of  the 
churches  have  prospered  and  g-rown  until  they  have 
been  able  to  move  "out  of  the  old  house,  into  the  new." 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 


253 


Church. 


Vermillion 

Big  Springs 

ElkPoint... 

Akron 

Spirit  Mound -- - 

Bloomingdale  (Scand.) 

Canton _ 

Lincoln 

Lodi  (Scandinavian) 

Dell  Rapids 

Hurley 

Parker 

Daneville  (Scandinavian)  .. 

Sioux  Falls 

Emanuel  Creek  (German).- 
Centerville --- 

Madison - 

Goodwin  — 

Brookings .- 

Watertown 

Huron 

Big  Stone  City  (German).. 

Montrose 

Mitchell 

Oldham - — 

Egan - 

Arlington  — .'. 

Aberdeen 

Strandburgf  (Scandinavian) - 

Chamberlain 

Spencer,-. 

Flandreau 

Brookings  (Scandinavian). 
De  Smet -. 

Armour 

Sioux  Falls  (Scandinavian) . 
Sun  Prairie  (Scandinavian). 

Plum  Creek  (German) 

Kimball 

Estelline 

Ipswich  — 

Parkston - 

Pierre 

Madison  (German). 

Elkton.. 

Pukwana  (Scandinavian).. 

Emery  (German) 

Gettysburg _. 

Plankinton 

Eureka  (German) 

Dell  Rapids  (Scandinavian) 

Bryant 

Spmk  Co.  (Scandinavian). 

White  Rock... 

Troy - 

Orleans  (Scandinavian 


Organized. 


February  i6,  i86S. 

July,  1S69 

March  11,  1S71 

March  20,  1871 

July  23,  1S71 

October  15,  1871... 

J  March  18,  1S72 

1  March  u;,  1885 

March  18,  1S72 

March  25,  1872 

July  21,  1872 

December  24,  1872. 
December  25,  1S72. 

December  31,  1873. 

July  4,1875 

April  26,  1876 

June  15,  1878 , 

October  26,  1878... 

August  10,  1879 

May  2,  18S0 

June  20,  1880 

August  23,  1880 

May  9,  1880 

September  17,  1881 
November  27,  188 1 

j  January  25,  1^2... 

}  October  24,  1S86... 
February  12,  1SS2. 

June,  i8S2 

May  7,  1882 

June  25,  1882 

December  2, 1883.. 
February  9,  1883.. 

j  February  23,  1883. 

Ijuly  I,  1894.. 

March  15,  1883 

April  15,  1883 

iMay  5,1883 

(  February  13,  1887. 

May  19,  1883 

June  3,  18S3 

June  9,  1883 

June,  1883... 

July  13,  1883. 

January  27,  1884 

August  lo,  1884... 

October  12,  1884..- 

May  I,  1885 

July  2,  1885 

July  25, 1885 

February  24,  1886. 

March  14,  1886 

May  9,  1886 

June  16,  i886 

jjune  7,  1882 

I  November  2,  1S86. 

May  15,  1SS7 

July  10,  1887 

August  21,  1887.., 

October  27.  1887... 

April  8,  1888 


Deemcated. 


JJune  4,  1872 

j  May  18,  [890 

jJune  7,  1873 

/  September  4,  1893.. 

October,  1S73 

(January  19,  1879 

■jJune  10,   1894 

February  9,  1896... 

November,  1878 

{-  December  7,  1887... 

October,  1873 

(July  18,  1880. 

■)June8,  1887 

November  15,  1883. 

September  9,  18S3.. 

(June  14,  1878 

"j  November  10,  18S9. 

November  i,  1882.. 

May  26,  1889- 

Novembei*  9,  1884.. 
j  November  27,  1881. 
I  December  22,  1889.. 

December  24,  1881.. 

JJune  II,  18S2 

'1  December  11,  1S87.. 

October  7,  1883 

November  20,  1881. 

July  6,  1S90 

December  17,  1882.. 

January  20,  1884 

[•November  25,  18S8. 

January  i,  1882 

September  25,  1892. 
January  2,  18S6 

April"  "i7,"i'sS4".'.'.^[; 
December  18,  1887.. 

December  9,  1883.. 

October  19,  1884..., 
)  October  14,  1887.... 
f  July  19,  1893 

December  21,  1884. 

(  October  17,  1883.... 
•jJune  19,  1893 

August  14,  1SS4 

April,  1894 -. 

January  15,  1893... 

June  16,  1895 • 

November  21,  j886 
November  29,  1885 

March   11,  1893 

June  21,  1891 

November  18,  1888 

October  10,  1SS9''.. 
I  November  5,  1880. 
f  November  29,  1888 

September  i,  1889. 

N  ovember  28,'  1888 


Sunday  School 
Organized. 


f-' 


June,  1872. 
December,  1872, 
'  March  20,  1871. 

June,  1871. 

May  20,  1888. 
I  March,  1872. 
\  April  15,  1885. 

March  25,  1S72.. 


-August  I,  18S0. 

November  7,  1880. 
May,  1874. 

^July  15,  1873. 

July  4.  iS75- 
1S78. 
June,  1S78. 

(.1882. 

August  10,  1879. 

1S80. 

June,  1882. 

September  i,  18S7. 
January  i,  1882. 


-July,  1882. 

August  2,  1885. 
September  18,  1892, 
July  22,  1883. 
June  25,  1882. 
May  8,  1884. 
December,  1887. 
} 

January,  18S6. 

September,  1884. 
I  May  6,  1883. 
r  April  3,  1887. 

July,  1^5. 

April  I,  1892. 

Ijune,  1883. 

1884.'" 

February  3,  1884. 

January  15,  1893. 

October,  1884. 

May  3,  1885. 

July  2,  1885. 

1889. 

1S84. 

1888. 

May  9,  1886. 

[1887. 

Majr  8,  1898. 
April  4,  1S8S. 
April,  iSq6. 
May,  1893. 
November  28,  1889. 


254 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 


Church. 


Organized. 


Dedicated. 


Sunday  School 
Organized. 


Faulkton 

Pierpont.-. _. 

Hecla ^ .- 

Bradley 

Lake  Nor(len(Scandmavian) 

Bushnell 

Dead  wood  ..__ 

Spring-  Valley(Scan6inav'n) 

Bruce.- 

Gem... 

Rapid  City _-. 

Miner  Co.  (Scandinavian). 

Delmont 

Hetland 

Onida 

Huron  (Scandinavian) 

Beresford 

Washinj^ton 

Hot  Spring^s  . 

Custer  City 

Hill  City- 

Salem  (German) 

Avon  (German) 

Woonsocket 

Lead  City 

Zion  (Clear  Lake) 

Lake  Preston 

Clark 

Highland ._ 

Chancellor  (German) 

Yankton  &  Scotland(German) 

Turkey  Valley  (Scand.) 

Oelrich .". 

Beaver  Basin 

Parkston  (German) 

Warner 

Verdon 

Blendon 

Vernon 

Conde 

Fairfax  (German) 

Rose 

Effington 

Napier  (German)... 

\Vindoin 

Vernon  (Scandinavian) 

Hayti.-.. 

Mound  City  (German) 

Summit  (Scandinavian) 

Choteau  Creek 

MillviUe 

White 


\  April  27.  1S88 

)  May  14,  i8g6 

May  15,  188S 

June,  1888 

September  8,  1888. 
September  17,  1888 
September  21,  1888 
October  31,  1888... 
November  11,  1SS8 

January  4,  1S89 

"March  24,  1SS9 

Junei6, 18S9 

June  16,  1889 

June  19,  18S9 

June  27,  1S89 

July  12,  1889 

December  19,  1SS9. 

.  April  8,  1S90 

June  26,  1S90. 

August  27,  TS90... 
August  29,  iSgo... 
September  i,  1S90. 
December  4,  1S90.. 
December  15,  1S90. 

April  26,  1S91 

September  3,  1891. 
October  20,  1891... 

March  22,  1892 

March  27,  1892 

May  8,  1^2 

July  15,  1892 

November  22,  1892 
February  8,  1893.. 

March  5,  1S93 

March  26,  1S93 

January  13,  1894... 
January  28,  1894... 
February  22,  1894. 

March  10,  1894 

May  26,  1894 

June  14,  1894 

June  30,  1894 

March  17,  189S 

November  9,  1895. 
November  14,  1896 

May  16,  1897 

June  19,  1897. 

September  22,  1897 
Deceiuber  29,  1897. 

March  15,  189S 

October  9,  1^99 

October  23, 1898... 
January  22,  1899 


July  28,  1889.. 

September  12,  1S97. 


September  6,  1891 
March  27,  189^ 


March  15,  1891 

November  21,  1897. 


October  26,  18S4.... 
September  20,  1891 


August  28,  1892. 
September  11,  16 


September  10,  1893. 
November  22,  1891. 


February  2,  1896 
October  16,  1892. 


March  13,  1893. 


December  23,  1894. 

May  21,  1893 

October  21,  1894... 


1899- 


June  9,  1897. 


(  April,  1S88. 
"1  May,  1^96. 
April  27,  1889. 

j'une,  1S93. 
April  6,  1890. 


November  25,  i 
March  29,  1890. 


April  I,  1890. 


April  20,  1890. 

June  16,  iSgo. 

November  i,  1892. 

1880. 

1885. 

July  16,  1893. 

1892. 

October  9,  1892, 


August,  1892. 
April,  18SS. 
1889. 


January  i,  1892. 
August  14,  1893. 
March  26,  1893. 
February  21,  1894. 
February,  1894. 
February  17,  1895. 
April,  1S94. 

June  21,  1894. 
March  25,  1895. 
April,  1896. 

August  10,  1895. 
March,  1891;. 
July  IS,  1897. 


March  S,  1899. 


June,  1898. 
February  27,  1S98. 

December  25,  1898 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  255 

Reference  has  been  made  elsewhere  to  the  fact  that 
on  account  of  the  uncertain  future  of  early  settlements 
in  a  new  country,  the  drifting  of  population  from  one 
locality  to  another,  the  changes  in  location  occasioned 
by  the  building  of  railroad  lines,  mistakes  in  organiza- 
tion, or  adverse  internal  and  local  conditions,  a  good 
many  churches  organized,  especially  during  the  first 
and  second  decades,  are  no  longer  in  existence.  The 
following  churches  are  now  extinct: 

Yankton,  February  3,  1867.  Webster,  March  i,  1885. 

Gay ville,  June  7,  1873.  Groton,  March  12,  1885;  May  26,  1885. 

Sunnyside,  September  15,  1877.  Beaver,  March  16,  1885. 

Oakwood,  June  2,  1878.  Clear  Lake,  March  25,  1885. 

Fountain,  June  4,  1878.  Myron,  June  6,  1885. 

Big  Stone,  November  17,  1881.  Marvin,  October  7,  1884. 

Ordway,  July  — ,  1881.  Andover,  June  — ,  1885. 

Redfield,  March  29,  1882.  Dayton,  October  — ,  1885. 

Alexandria,  November  — ,  1882.  White  Lake,  May  i,  1886. 

Columbia,  April  — ,  1882,  Garfield,  July  — ,  1886. 

Castlewood,  May  6,  1883.  Warner  (German),  July  20,  1886. 

Silver  Lake,  July  14,  1883.  Bijou  Hills,  September  — ,  1886. 

Blunt,  November  — ,  1883.  Miller,  October  27,  1887. 

Howard,  December  23,  1883.  Wessington  Springs,  April  — ,  1887. 

Sand  Creek,  August  i,  1883.  St.  Lawrence,  July  14,  1889. 

Beulah  (Alpena),  November  27,  1884.    Beulah  (Sioux  Falls),  June  28,  1891. 

Vilas,  July  — ,  1884.  Salem,  May  12,  1893. 

Afton  (Carthage),  February  20,  1885.     Huffton,  July  11,  1894. 

Only  six  of  these  thirty-six  organizations  had  houses 
of  worship.  The  buildings  at  Yankton  and  West  Sioux 
Palls  (Beulah  church),  are  in  possession  of  the  Amer- 
ican Baptist  Home  Mission  Society.  When  the  church 
at  Vilas  became  extinct,  the  house  of  worship  there 
was  sold  to  the  Congregationalists.  When  the  state 
capitol  was  located  at  Pierre,  the  members  of  the 
church  at  Blunt  removed  to  Pierre,  and  their  house  of 
worship  was  removed  to  Onida.  The  Myron  church 
was  a  little  country  organizatioii  in  Faulk  county, 
which   passed  out  of  existence  on  the  death  of  their 


256  THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

first  and  only  leader,  Deacon  Purdy.  Their  chapel, 
which  was  a  sod  house,  soon  fell  into  decay.  The 
feeble  org-anizations  at  Alexandria  and  Columbia  died 
under  the  weig-ht  of  heavy  indebtedness,  occasioned 
by  building-  too  expensive  houses  of  worship. 

Future  Baptists,  who  may  have  an  opportunity  to 
look  over  the  early  files  of  associational  minutes,  during* 
territorial  times,  will  see  some  unfamiliar  names  of 
churches  and  localities.  Most  of  the  churches  alluded 
to  still  exist,  but  under  different  names.  Reference 
has  been  made  elsewhere  to  the  chang^e  of  location  and 
name  of  many  early  villag-es,  caused  by  establishing- 
stations  a  few  miles  distant,  when  railroad  lines  were 
built,  in  the  early  days  of  the  territory.  For  this 
reason  Dakota  City  became  Parkston;  Huston  was 
chang-ed  to  Armour;  Freedom,  afterwards  Dover,  was 
changed  to  Spencer;  Spring-  Lake  to  Oldham;  Finlay  to 
Parker;  Swan  Lake,  afterwards  Bethel,  was  removed 
to  Hurley;  Fountain  passed  out  of  existence  with  the 
birth  of  Brooking-s;  Arling-ton  was  first  called  Nord- 
land,  and  later  Denver.  The  Akron  church  had  a 
series  of  names,  including-  LeRoy  and  Portlandville. 
The  church  at  Madison  was  orig-inally  known  as  the 
Union  Baptist  church  of  Lake  county.  The  name  of 
the  church  org-anized  at  Lodi  in  1871,  was  chang-ed  to 
Blooming-dale  in  1878,  and  to  Spirit  Mound  in  1895. 
This  shifting-  of  locations  and  chang-ing-  of  names  was  a 
part  of  the  experience  of  former  days  and  has  not  been 
necessary  in  later  years. 

The  following-  table  has  been  carefully  prepared  for 
the  purpose  of  showing-  the  location  of  Baptist  churches 
by  counties,  g-iving-  also  the  number  of  members  in 
each  church,  and  the  name  of  the'  association  to  which 
it  belong-s.  The  names  of  churches  located  at  county 
seats  are  printed  in  small  capitals. 


FIRST  BAPTIST    CHUKCH,    MADISON. 

CHUKCH    ORGANIZED    OCTOBER    36,    1S7S. 

FIRST    HOUSE   OK   WORSHIP    DEDICATED    NOVEMHER    27,    iSSi, 

PRESENT   HOUSE   OF   WORSHIP   DEDICATED   DECEMBER    22,    1889. 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 


257 


LOCATION  OF  BAPTIST  CHURCHES  BY 
COUNTIES. 


Counties. 

Churches. 

S 

Association. 

Plankintgn... 

II 
64 

115 
93 
18 
4 
20 
32 
14 

121 
6 
10 

.1 

-i3 

Sioux  Falls. 

Beadle 

j  Huron 

Central. 

j  Avon 

German 

I  Emanuel's  Creek 

/'Brookings 

German. 

I  Brookings 

Scandinavian. 

)  Bruce 

Northeastern. 

\  BushnelL. 

/  Elkton 

V  White. i 

Northeastern. 

/Abbrdeen.  

Gem .. 

Hecla 

N  orth  western 

S  Highland 

Northwestern. 

/  Verdon.. 

V Warner. 

Northwestern. 

Brule.-  

\  Chamberlain 

(  Pukwana                      .   . 

Sioux  Falls. 

Scandinavian. 

Buffalo...   

Butte               .                        

Campbell.. 

\i 

^6 
366 
72 
35 
40 
no 
40 

s 

10 
129 

% 

iS 

65 

75 
7 
14 
21 

47 

32 

7 

25 

% 

13 
26 

Charles  Mix. 

Choteau  Creek 

German. 

Clark 

J  Clark 

\  Bradley 

Northeastern. 

f  Vermillion. 

Southern  Dakota. 

Clay 

iLodi .     ..::"':":""■" 

Scandinavian. 

Southern  Dakota. 

Codinfjton 

Watertow^n        .    . 

Northeastern . 

(  CusTEK  City 

Black  Hills. 

Custer... 

Black  Hills. 

\  Millville 

Black  Hills. 

Davison  . 

j  Mitchell 

Sioux  Falls. 

Day 

Pierpont 

Northwestern. 

Deuel... 

Douglas 

j  Armour 

Southern  Dakota. 

Edmunds                .     . 

Ipswich 

Northwestern. 

Black  Hills. 

■jOelrichs 

j  Faulkton 

Black  Hills. 
Northwestern. 

Faulk 

I  Orleans 

Scandinavian. 

(  Big  Stone  City 

(Troy       

Northeastern. 

Gregory. 

Fairfax.. .. 

f  Bryant 

Central. 

J  Estelline 

'  Hayti 

Central. 

Hand 

72 

li 

137 
170 

Hughes. 

Pierre 

Central. 

Hutchinson 

(  Parkston 

\  Parkston 

Southern  Dakota. 
German. 

\  Plum  Creek... 

Hvde 

Jerauld , 

X7 


258 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 


LOCATION  OF  BAPTIST  CHURCHES  BY 
COUNTIES.— (Continued.) 


Counties. 


Churches. 


Association. 


Kingsbury - 

Lake 

Lawrence  . 

Lincoln 

Lyman 

Marshall  .. 

McCook 

McPherson 

Meade 

Miner 

Minnehaha 

Moody 

Pennington 
Potter 

Roberts 

Sanborn  

Spink 

Stanley 

Sully 

Turner 

Union 

Walworth  . 

Yankton 

Iowa 

Nebraska.. 


fDE  Smet 

I  Arlington 

^  Hetland 

I  Lake  Preston. 

[.Oldham 

3  Madison 

I  Madison 

J  Deadwood... 

"j  Lead  City 

i  Canton 

<  Chancellor 

/  Lincoln 


Salem 

Montrose 

Spencer 

Eureka  

Washington . 


Berton 

Sun  Prairie 

Sioux  Falls 

Sioux  Falls 

Dell  Rapids 

Dell  Rapids 

Zion  (Clear  Lake). 

Flandreau  

Egan 

Rapid  City 

Gettysburg 

Effington 

White  Rock 

Vernon 

Vernon 

Windom 

Summit 

Woonsocket 

Conde  

Rose 

Spink  County 


Onida 

Parker 

Centerville 

Daneville 

Hurley 

Spring  Valley 

Beresford 

Big  Springs  .. 
Elk  Point  ... 


Yankton 

Turkey  Valley. 

Akron 

Napier 


36 
II 
4 
43 
181 
244 
iiS 

5^ 
58 
42 

20 


37 
69 
210 

57 
70 
94 
SO 
12 
29 
81 
10 
10 
7 
5 

23 
14 
44 
22 
18 
20 
39 


i8 
33 
IS3 
36 


Central. 
Central. 
Central. 
Central. 
Central. 
Sioux  Falls. 
German. 
Black  Hills. 
Black  Hills. 
Southern  Dakota. 
German. 
Southern  Dakota. 


German. 
Sioux  Falls. 
Sioux  Falls. 
German. 
Northwestern. 

Scandinavian. 

Scandinavian. 

Sioux  Falls. 

Scandinavian, 

Sioux  Falls. 

Scandinavian. 

Sioux  Falls. 

Sioux  Falls. 

Sioux  Falls. 

Black  Hills. 

Northwestern. 

Northeastern. 

Northeastern. 

Northeastern. 

Scandinavian. 

Northeastern. 

Scandinavian. 

Sioux  Falls. 

Northwestern. 

Northwestern. 

Scandinavian. 

Central. 

Southern  Dakota. 
Southern  Dakota. 
Scandinavian. 
Southern  Dakota. 
Scandinavian. 
Southern  Dakota. 
Scandinavian. 
Southern  Dakota. 

German. 
Scandinavian. 
Southern  Dakota. 
German. 


Totals — Counties,  53. 


Churches,  106.     Members,  5,835.      Associations,  8. 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 


259 


The  following-  summary  has  been  compiled  from  the 
foreg-oing-  table,  with  four  additional  columns,  g-iving* 
the  ratio  of  members  to  population  in  each  county,  the 
number  of  houses  of  worship  and  parsonag-es  in  each 
county,  the  seating  capacity  of  the  former,  and  the 
total  reported  valuation  of  church  property. 


SUMMARY    OF    MEMBERSHIP    AND    CHURCH 
PROPERTY  BY  COUNTIES. 


Counties. 

1 

II 

?  V 

i 
1 

6 

6 

1^ 

1 
% 

i 

a 

11 

if 

bo 

I 

1 

i 

'0 

CIS 

eS 

If 

Aurora 

3854 
7786 
9612 

10840 
14036 

5435 
714 

1575 

8251 
7096 
3326 

'5316 

4758 

'a 

1042 
5225 

3180 

2779 

',^ 

\X 
804 
4503 
7206 
6288 
3552 

I 
2 
2 
6 
6 
2 

7 
129 
179 
iSi 
192 
31 

I  to  550 
I  to    60 
I  to    54 
I  to    60 
I  to    73 
I   to   151 

Beadle                       

200 

•550 
575 
300 

75 

$2600  00 

4200  00 
13600  00 

Brookings 

Brown 

Brule 

4580  00 

600  00 

Buffalo 

Butte 

Campbell 

I 
I 
2 
4 

3 

2 
I 
I 
2 
I 
2 
2 
3 

4 

125 

w 

513 

no 

85 
29 

'A 

85 

i 

25 
102 

I  to  340 
I  to  246 
I  to    73 
I  to     16 
I  to    65 
I  to    58 
I  to    38 
I  to  124 
I  to  190 
I  to    61 
I  to    57 
I  to     50 
I  to    06 
I  to    89 
I  to  260 
I  to    51 

.... 

""475' 

1000 

300 

150 

300 

150 
200 
150 
ISO 
200 

2000  00 

Charles  Mix 

800  00 

Clark 

4550  00 

Clay - 

20600  00 

4S00  00 
2500  00 

Custer 

Davison.   .           

7500  00 

Day 

1500  00 
1400  00 

Deuel                            

2700  00 

Edmunds                        ..           .  .  . 

2500  00 

5150  00 

Fall  River 

Faulk                                          ..     . 

Grant 



200 
330 

2000  00 

Grecrory 

800  00 

Hamlin 

2500  00 

Hand 

Hanson 

I 
3 

72 

93 
319 

I  to    64 
1  to    34 
I  to    36 

3 

150 
200 
650 

2000  00 
5000  00 
66co  00 

Hutchinson. 

Hyde 



5 
2 
2 
3 

137 
425 
170 
126 

1  to    61 
1  to     13 
I  to    84 
I  to    86 



3 
2 
2 

2 

600 
650 
350 
450 

5500  00 

Lake  

9000  00 

iiooo  00 

Lincoln 

4500  00 

layman 

Marshall 

McCook 

3 

2 

162 

1  to    85 
1  to    39 

3 
3 

575 
175 

4500  00 

McPherson 

3000  00 

Meade 

4347 

14 

49 

9125 

137980  00 

260 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 


SUMMARY    OF    MEMBERSHIP 
PROPERTY  BY  COUNTIES. 


AND    CHURCH 

-(Continued.) 


Counties. 


q  c 


CLhC/3 


^ 


S  d 
o  o 


Pi2 


o  o 
Cn, 


Brought  forward 

Miner 

Minnehaha - 

Moody    --- 

Pennington 

Potter 

Roberts 

Sanborn 

Spink  ._. 

Stanley 

Sully. 

Turner 

Union 

Walworth 

Yankton 

Akron,  la 

Napier,  Neb. 

Seventeen  Unorganized  Counties 
West  of  Missouri  River 


230071 

6448 
5163 
2464 

7509 
4326 
S964 

Sn 
1641 

"837 
10515 
2480 

"305 


4347 

106 

4S1 

41 

81 

10 

103 

22 

77 


49 


to  47 
to  43 
to  157 
to  64 
to  246 
to  73 
to  292 
to  116 


91^5 
ISO 

1200 
ISO 

175 
250 
400 


$137980  00 
1400  00 
28900  00 
1200  00 
5000  00 
2500  00 
1600  00 


1200  09 


386 
283 


to  53 
to  30 
to  37 


200 
1 150 
900 


2700  00 
10850  00 
7800  00 


47S 
200 

17s 


4500  CO 

3800  00 
Soo  00 


3354 


Total.. 70  330975 


ro6 


S83S 


to  56 


14445  $206230  00 


Prom  the  foreg'oing'  tables  it  is  ascertained  that  106 
Baptist  churches  are  now  in  existence  in  South  Dakota, 
with  5,835  members.  These  churches  have  seventy- 
seven  houses  of  worship,  with  a  seating-  capacity  of 
14,445.  There  are  eig-hteen  parsonag-es.  The  total 
reported  valuation  of  church  property  is  $206,230.00. 
According"  to  the  state  census  report  of  1895  the  popu- 
lation of  the  state  was  330,975.  The  ratio  of  Baptists 
to  the  total  population  is  one  to  fifty-six.  The  ratio  of 
American  Baptists  to  the  native  born  population  is  one 
to  sixty-eig-ht.  The  ratio  of  Scandinavian  and  German 
Baptists  to  the  foreig-n  born  population  is  one  to  thirty- 
eight.  ,  The  ratio  of  the  Scandinavian  and  German 
Baptists  to  the  population  of  foreig-n  birth  and  foreign 
parentage  is  one  to  seventy-three. 


THE  BAPTIST  HlSTORY  OP  SOLfTH  DAKOTA.  261 

South  Dakota  is  divided  into  seventy  counties.  Sev- 
enteen of  these  counties,  all  of  them  west  of  the  Mis- 
souri river,  are  unorg-anized,  most  of  them  being- 
included  in  the  Sioux  Indian  reservations.  The  total 
population  of  these  seventeen  unorg-anized  counties, 
not  including-  Indians,  is  3,350.  These  are  mainly 
ranchmen,  eng-ag-ed  in  raising-  cattle  and  sheep.  Of 
the  forty-three  org-anized  counties,  all  are  east  of  the 
Missouri  river  except  Butte,  Custer,  Pall  River,  Greg-- 
ory,  Lawrence,  Lyman,  Meade,  Penning-ton  and  Stan- 
ley. Six  of  these  counties,  Lawrence,  Meade,  Butte, 
Penning-ton,  Custer  and  Pall  River,  include  the  Black 
Hills.  The  Baptist  churches  in  the  Black  Hills  are 
located  in  Lawrence,  Penning-ton,  Custer  and  Pall 
River  counties. 

With  the  exception  of  the  Black  Hills,  nearly  all  of 
the  settled  portion  of  the  state  is  east  of  the  Missouri 
river.  This  includes  thirty-eig-ht  counties.  Many  of 
these  counties  are  very  larg-e,  containing-  from  thirty  to 
forty  townships.  There  are  Baptist  churches  in  all  of 
these  counties  except  Buffalo,  Hand,  Hyde,  Jerauld, 
Marshall  and  Walworth.  Churches  formerly  existed 
in  Hyde  and  Jerauld  counties,  but  they  became  extinct. 
There  is  only  one  Baptist  church  in  each  of  the  follow- 
ing- eleven  counties:  Campbell,  Charles  Mix,  Coding-- 
ton.  Day,  Deuel,  Edmunds,  Hanson,  Hug-hes,  Potter, 
Sanborn,  and  Sully.  The  following-  nine  counties  have 
one  or  more  Baptist  churches,  but  none  at  the  county 
seat:  Bon  Homme,  Charles  Mix,  Day,  Deuel,  Grant, 
Hamlin,  Hanson,  Miner  and  Spink.  In  twenty-seven 
of  these  counties  Baptists  ar^  represented  by  a  church 
at  the  county  seat:  Aurora,  Beadle,  Brooking-s, 
Brown,  Brule,  Campbell,  Clark,  Clay,  Coding-ton, 
Davison,  Doug-las,  Edmunds,  Paulk,  Hug-hes,  King-s- 
bury.  Lake,  Lincoln,  McCook,  McPherson,  Minnehaha, 


262         THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

Moody,  Potter,  Sanborn,  Sully,  Turner,  Union,  and 
Yankton;  also  in  Greg*ory  county,  and  in  Custer,  Pall 
River,  Lawrence  and  Penning-ton  counties  in  the  Black 
Hills. 

Sunday  school  statistics  are  seldom  reported  fully 
and  accurately.  The  following-  statistical  table  has 
been  carefully  compiled  from  all  available  sources,  but 
it  does  not  represent  all  that  has  been  done.  For  sev- 
eral of  the  early  years  no  report  from  the  Sunday 
schools  were  presented  at  the  annual  meeting's  of  the 
association.  It  is  only  within  the  last  ten  years  that 
reasonably  full  statistics  have  been  furnished: 


THE  BAPTIST  HiSTORY  OP  SOLfTH  DAKOTA. 


263 


SUNDAY  SCHOOL  STATISTICS. 

FROM  1867  TO  1898. 


Year. 


Oh 


1869. 
1S70. 
1871. 
1872. 
1S73- 
1874- 

1876. 

'§77- 
1S7S. 

J879- 
1880. 
1881. 
18S2. 
1883. 
1884. 
1885. 
1886. 
18S7. 
1888. 
1889. 
1890- 
1891. 
1892. 

1893- 
1894. 
1895- 
1896- 


59 
SO 
S3 
65 
59 

;g 

131 
237 
232 
240 
594 
504 

lu 

603 

497 
712 
726 

728 

735 
658 
732 


332 
394 

l'^ 

526 
694 

1057 
770 
1039 
938 
1422 
1512 
1530 
4028 
3528 
3865 
3773 
4604 
4158 
491 1 
4946 
5152 
5496 
5143 
5598 


391 
449 
417 
623 
585 
739 
1239 

877 
1201 
1069 
1659 
1744 
1770 
4624 
4032 
4422 
4301 
5207 
465s 
5623 

'X 

6231 

5801 
6330 


$101  74 
152  69 


16 


130 

134 
181 
232 
232 
165 
los 
179 


Total 


237  28 

271  20 

272  54 
221  83 
623  40 
481  96 
298  14 
282  64 
173  12 
176  20 


$126  25 
128  21 
143  48 
149  45 
132  59 
"7  55 
253  57 
253  37 
35086 

4^778 
500  88 
668  06 

703  39 
1169  98 
1279  10 
1237  68 
1092  55 
2253  55 
172466 
1927  91 
2315  01 
1924  84 
2276  39 
2152  15 
2327  16 


$126  25 
128  21 
143  48 
251  19 
285  28 
"7  55 
253  57 
253  37 
35086 

668  06 
703  39 
11699S 
1279  10 
1474  96 
1363  75 
2526  09 
1946  49 

2551  31 
2796  97 
2222  98 
2559  03 
2325  27 
2503  36 


1408    $3298  74 


$25676  42 


$28971  56 


In  compiling-  the  following-  table  of  contributions  for 
benevolence  and  expenses  since  the  beg-inning-  of  our 
history  in  South  Dakota,  numerous  omissions  and 
defects  were  found  in  the  early  records.  During-  the 
first  decade,  and  long-er,  sufficient  care  was  not  taken  to 
collect  and  report  the  statistics  of  the  churches.  The 
whole  amount  reported  as  raised  by  the  churches  for 
benevolence  and  expenses  is  $570,356.86.  Of  this 
amount,  $73,854.60  was  for  benevolence.  The  full 
amount  of  contributions  for  benevolence  was  undoubt- 
edly   much    larger.     The    thoughtlessness     of    many 


264 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 


churches  in  electing-  their  officers,  and  the  indifference 
and  carelessness  of  many  of  these  officers  in  keeping 
their  records  and  making-  reports,  are  mainly  respon- 
sible for  the  inability  to  make  a  full  and  complete  show- 
ing- of  what  has  been  done. 

REPORTED  BENEVOLENCE  AND  EXPENSES. 

18671898. 


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Adding-  the  total  of  the  amounts  raised  for  benevo- 
lence and  expenses  by  the  Sunday  schools  to  the  table 
of  contributions  from  the  churches,  we  have  the  follow- 
ing result; 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OP  SOUTH  DAKOTA.  265 

BENEVOLENCE. 

Churches $  73,854  60 

Sunday  schools 3,298  74 

Total - ---  .  $77,153  34 

EXPENSES. 

Churches $496,502  26 

Sunday  schools 25,676  42 

Total-- ._---..------  $522,178  68 

Grand  total  for  benevolence  and  expenses- -$599,332  02 

In  the  table  of  reported  benevolence  and  expenses 
from  the  churches  it  will  be  observed  that  the  column 
headed  state  missions  is  practically  a  blank  until  1894. 
Until  a  few  years  ag-o  all  contributions,  not  intended  for 
foreign  missions  and  other  objects,  were  designated  for 
home  missions.  Since  1895  changes  have  been  made  in 
the  blank  forms  for  annual  reports  to  the  associations, 
and  annual  offerings  are  made  for  the  use  of  the  state 
convention  in  the  prosecution  of  missionary  work  within 
the  state,  under  the  existing  plan  of  co-operation 
between  the  South  Dakota  Baptist  Convention  and  the 
American  Baptist  Home  Mission  Society. 

The  two  states  of  South  Dakota  and  North  Dakota 
are  separate  and  distinct  in  their  missionary  operations, 
but  the  long-continued  relationship  of  their  citizens 
together  during  the  existence  of  Dakota  Territory 
created  a  mutual  interest  in  each  other's  welfare.  The 
first  Baptist  church  in  North  Dakota  was  organized  at 
Pargo,  January  27,  1879.  The  beginning  of  active  mis- 
sionary work  dates  from  the  appointment  of  Rev.  G.  W. 
Huntley  as  general  missionary,  June  1,  1881.  His  field 
of  operations  was  at  first  mainly  along  the  line  of  the 


266         THIi  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

Northern  Pacific  railroad,  and  extended  from  Minne- 
sota into  Montana.  Ten  churches  were  org'anized  in 
1881,  and  these  were  formed  into  the  first  association, 
which  met  at  Grand  Porks,  November  5, 1881.  The  first 
recorded  baptism  in  North  Dakota,  was  that  of  Mrs. 
J.  D.  Burg-ar,  at  Grafton,  June  24,  1882.  Mr.  Huntley 
was  a  faithful  and  successful  leader  in  missionary 
work.  He  served  until  June,  1892.  His  successor, 
Rev.  C.  H.  Holden,  served  until  July  1, 1894,  when  Rev. 
W.  L.  Van  Horn  was  appointed  and  continued  in  the 
work  until  1898.  The  latest  statistics  g-ive  the  follow- 
ing- items  of  information  concerning*  North  Dakota  Bap- 
tists: Churches  sixty,  including-  thirty-seven  Ameri- 
can, seventeen  Scandinavian,  and  eig-ht  German; 
number  of  members,  2,630.  There  are  forty-three 
houses  of  worship,  and  ten  parsonag-es.  Total  valuation 
of  church  property,  $78,000.00. 

In  this  volume  the  author  has  attempted  to  record  the 
history  of  Baptist  missionary  work  from  its  beg-inning- 
in  South  Dakota,  and  the  later  prog-ress  and  g-rowth  of 
the  denomination.  Only  the  pioneers  in  an  effort  to 
establish  a  new  and  better  condition  of  thing-s,  can 
know  the  hardships  and  sacrifices  involved  in  such  a 
movement.  Prom  the  earliest  settlements,  harassed 
by  Indian  depredations,  to  the  later  years  of  peace  and 
safety  from  hostile  foes,  many  have  had  a  larg-e  exper- 
ience in  enduring-  the  privations  and  suffering-s  of 
pioneer  life.  To  carefully  lay  the  foundations  of  a  new 
state,  and  to  wisely  shape  its  character  and  destiny, 
and  thus  promote  the  welfare  of  g-enerations  yet  to 
come,  involves  a  great  responsibility.  To  have  a  part 
in  such  an  undertaking-  is  a  g-reat  honor.  That  the 
framers  and  builders  of  South  Dakota  wrought  faith- 
fully and  successfully  has  been  clearly  shown. 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA.         267 

In  this  foundational  work  Baptists  labored  from  the 
beg-innin^,  and  have  ever  since  borne  a  larg-e  and  con- 
spicuous part.  They  were  more  than  Baptists.  They 
wer^  busy  toilers  in  constructing-  the  frame  work  and 
perfecting"  the  development  of  a  new  state,  midway 
between  the  oceans,  on  whose  broad  prairies  might  be 
established*  homes,  the  abodes  of  peace  and  happiness, 
and  schools,  the  aids  to  intellig-ence  and  culture,  and 
churches,  the  helpers  to  piety,  and  devotion,  and  loyalty 
to  God. 

To  those  who  wroug-ht  in  these  formative  years  all 
honor  is  due.  While  special  mention  has  been  made  of 
the  pioneer  missionary  and  the  pastor,  they  had  faith- 
ful co-workers  in  the  multitude  of  consecrated  and 
earnest  laymen  in  the  churches.  The  leaders  in  these 
early  relig-ious  movements  showed  remarkable  fidelity 
and  zeal,  and  persevered  in  the  face  of  many  difficulties. 
But  much  of  the  success  achieved  was  due  to  the 
earnest  devotion  and  self-sacrificing-  spirit  of  many  of 
the  wives  of  missionary  pastors.  The  services  that 
they  rendered,  thoug-h  less  conspicuous,  were  none  the 
less  worthy  of  commendation.  Their  patient  endur- 
ance of  hardships  and  trials,  and  their  fidelity  in  bear- 
ing- quietly  the  burdens  incident  to  their  position, 
entitle  them  to  an  honored  place  among-  the  builders  of 
a  new  civilization  in  the  g-reat  northwest.  It  was  the 
work  of  such  co-laborers,  the  missionary  pastor,  and 
his  faithful  ally  in  the  home,  and  the  loyal  helper  in 
the  church,  that  made  the  Baptist  history  of  South 
Dakota. 


APPENDIX. 


Many  of  the  facts  mentioned  in  this  volume  are  famil- 
iar to  those  who  have  borne  a  part  in  the  founding-  of  a 
new  state,  and  the  establishment  of  a  new  civilization  in 
the  northwest.  But  one  of  the  objects  contemplated 
in  the  preparation  of  this  historical  record  has  been  to 
furnish  information  to  those  who  shall  come  after  us. 
This  summary  of  what  has  been  done,  and  the  results 
accomplished,  has  been  carefully  collected  from  a  mul- 
titude of  sources,  while  they  are  still  available,  as  a 
matter  of  interest  to  those  who  are  now  living-,  and  also 
that  we  may  "tell  it  to  the  g-eneration  following-." 

Future  readers  of  the  Baptist  history  of  South 
Dakota  may  desire  to  have  some  basis  of  comparison  to 
enable  them  to  estimate  the  g-rowth  and  prog-ress  of 
the  denomination,  from  the  present  time  onward  to 
their  own  point  of  vision.  For  this  reason,  in  addition 
to  the  statistical  tables  g-iven  in  preceding*  chapters, 
the  following-  tables  of  anniversaries  of  the  associations 
and  of  the  state  convention,  are  here  published.  The 
list  embraces  all  of  the  associations  that  have  existed, 
representing-  all  nationalities.  It  includes  the  Sioux 
Valley  and  the  James  River  associations,  which  were 
voluntarily  disbanded  in  1893,  and  out  of  which,  with 
the  addition  of  a  number  of  new  churches,  were  formed 
four  new  orgfanizations,  known  as  the  Sioux  Falls,  Cen- 
tral, Northeastern  and  Northwestern  associations: 


THE  BAPTIST  HISTORY  OF  SOUTH  DAKOTA, 


269 


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INDEX. 


PAGE 

Aberdeen 5° 

Achterback,  W .- 1S7 

Adams,  S.  G 55 

Aid  from  Home  Mission  Society 221 

Akron — 4°,  S3 

Alexandria 5°"S^ 

American  Baptist  H(^me  Mission  Society  2 iS-222 

American  Baptist  Missionary  Union.. ..222 

American  Baptist  Publication  Society 223 

Anniversaries  of  Associations.. 269-272 

Anniversaries  of  the  Convention. --273 

Anderson,  Peter 225 

Antisdell,  C.  B ....222 

Arling-ton 50 

Armour  — _. 50,  53 

Associations 1Q9-209 

Black  Hills 64,  206 

Central 205-209 

German 55,  204 

James  River 55,  202 

Northeastern 205-209 

Northwestern 205-209 

Scandinavian 55,  205 

Sioux  Falls 205-209 

Sioux  Valley... 55,  205 

Southern  Dakota 42,  19S 

Associational  Statistics 269-272 

Black  Hills 272 

Central 271 

German 270 

James  River 271 

Northeastern 271 

Northwestern 271 

Scandinavian 272 

Sioux  Falls 271 

Sioux  Valley ..270 

Southern  Dakota 269 

Atkinson,  I 251 

Avon _ 189,  192 

Baptist  Ministerial  Union ...214 

Baptist  Young-  People's  Union 64,  251 

Baptists  in  State  Offices ...271 

Barker,  M 55 

Benevolence  and  Expenses 264,  265 

Beresford 112,  171 

Berton 176 

Beulah 51,67,  6S 

Big-  Springs... 39,  163 

Big  Stone  City 56,  187-1S9 

Biographical  Sketches 245-250 

BlacK  Hills 63,  146-161 

Black  Hills  Associotion .--64,  206 

Blendon 67 

Bliss,  E.  M £5 

Bloomingdale 41,  165 


PAGE 

Boggs,  S.  A,  D 222 

Bon  Homme ...77-7S 

Blunt 50,  51 

Bradley 66,  6S 

Brookings 50,  53,  140,  170 

Bryant 68 

Brownson,  T.J 136 

Burkholder.J.  C 55 

Bushnell 66 

Canton 41,  106,  127-130 

Carstens,  Geo.  H 247 

Case,  Geo.  W 251 

Catholics,  Roman 33,  241 

Census 19,  21,  29,  '30,  34 

Central  Association 205 

Chamberlain 50 

Chancellor 1S8 

Chinese  Converts ^-..154 

Chinese  School 154 

Choteau  Creek... iSS 

Church  edifice  fund 221 

Church  property.  Value  of 260 

Churches,  First  organized .34-40, 104-107, 1 14- 1 19 

Churches  now^  existing 252-253 

Churches  now  extinct 51,  66,  255 

Churches  organized  in  last  decade 66-67 

Churches,  Table  of  by  counties 257-25S 

Churches,  Names  and  location  changed, 

- - - 51.  53,  153.  256 

Clark _ 67,  68 

Clevenger,  G.  S —SO,  140-145,  155 

Coffman,  J.  P 53,  105,  119,  130,  131-139 

College,  Sioux  Falls 228-237 

Commissions  to  missionaries 221 

Conde.- 67,  68 

Congregationalists 35,  36-37,  241 

Conklin,  V.  B 106,  112,  120,  :27i3o,  132 

Convention,  The  State.. 210-216 

Convention,  Organization  of 210-214 

Convention,  Anniversary  of 273 

Co-operation,  Plan  of... ---63,  215 

Coppoc,  J.  L 106 

Cressey,  Geo.  A ---55 

Cressey,  E.  T 233 

Cressey,  C.  G 55 

Crocker,  Chaplain  G.  D 39,  96-101,  105,  114 

Croeni,J.i 56,  1S7 

Dakota  or  Sioux  Indians  _ _ 

19,  21,  28,  S3,  149,  238-244 

Dakota  Territory. 15-25 

Organization  of 21 

Area  of.. ...17 

First  building 18 

First  white  settler 17 

First  forts  built iS 


INDEX. 


11 


PAGE 

Damm,  P.  H 54-179 

Daneville 41.  166-168 

Deadwood ifjo,  154,  155 

Decade,  The  last.. 60-73 

DeLand,  J.  L 153 

Delmont- 66 

Dell  Rapids 41,  122-126,  172 

De  Sinet 50 

Dexter,  T.  A.  B 158 

Dyall,  Thos.. 139 

Early  Beginnings 27-29,  33-47 

Edminster,  J.. 55,  126 

Eldridge,J.  R 49,  24.7 

Elk  Point- - 39,  93,  105 

Elkton 50 

Ellis,  Edward 54,  57-59,  61,  230 

Else,  T.  C 252 

Emanuel  Creek ..186 

Emery _. 56,  191 

Engler.J. 56 

Episcopalians 35-37»  241 

Epstein,  Dr.  E.  M 54,  236 

Estelline 50 

Eureka.. 187,  188 

Extinct  Churches,  List  of 51,  66,  255 

Fairfax — 18S 

Faulkton ...66 

Finwall,  C.  W —55,  170 

Flandreau 27,  67 

First  white  settler 17 

First  building iS 

First  general  missionary 32 

First  church  organized 32,  34,  37,  76,  92 

First  Baptist  church  organized 

- 37-39,74-85,87-92 

First  Baptist  pastor 40,  163 

First  missionaries 33-34,  46-47 

First  Baptist  missionaries  ..-34,  37,  46-47,  74-S5 

First  ordination . 105 

First  dedication.. 36-42,  108 

First  baptism _ 163,  165 

Frazee,  President  J.  S 237 

Freeman,  Geo.  W 37-39,  74-8s,  87-92 

Freewill  Baptists 250 

Furman,  A.J 54 

German  Association 55,  1S6-19S,  204 

Cierman  Baptists .'. 56,  64,  186-198 

Gettysburg... 68 

Gifts  and  loans  to  churches... 221 

Godwin,  Edward 5S 

Goodwin 50 

Gold ,  Discovery  of 148 

Gore,  Albert ---34,  37.  74-85,  89 

Grasshopper  scourges 45,  77,  119,  130.  134 

Haigh,  Dr.  Wm.  M --43-45,  219 

Hall,  Frank  D 70,  224 

Hayti... ...67 

Hecla 66 

Hessel,  Theo 54,  179 

Heston,  President  J.  W 237 

Highland ..67 

Hill,  Wm.  T ---53,  106,  115,  122-126,  132 

Hill  City ...150-156 

Hilton,  A.  W 49,53,  120,  133,  245 

Horning,  F.  M 515 

Hot  Springs _ 155 

Houses  of  Worship,  List  of 68,  253-254 

Houses  of  Worship,  Valuation  of ...260 

Houses  of  Worship,  During  last  decade 68 

Huetson,  A.  C 251 

Hurlbutt,  E.  H 105,  107,  110-112,  132 


Lodi 

Louisiana  Purchase. 


PAGE 

Hurley 41,  107,  119 

Huron. ^, 23,  24,  50,  176 

Immigration 22,  30,  48 

Indian  tribes 238-244 

Indian  hostilities 19,  21,  28,  76,  79,  83 

Indian  treaties 20,  29,  240 

Indian  reservations 149,  240 

Indian  missions  and  schools. ...241 

Ipswich 68 

James  River  Association 55,  202 

Jonhson,  Dr.  G.  J.,  Correspondence  of 87 

Johnson,  Geo.  T 223 

Johnson,  Andrew 164 

Judson,  L.  P 34,37.74-85,89 

Judson,  T.  H 41,  49,  246 

Keith,  Hosmer  H 232,  233,  252 

Lake  Norden 174 

Last  decade 60-73 

Lewis,  Martin  J 107,  248 

Lewis  and  Clark  expedition ...18 

Liebig,  August _ ..198 

Lincoln 112,  129 

Lindahl,  C.  A 225 

40,166,179 

- 15 

Wladison 56,  68,  124,  187 

Matzke,  B 55,  1S7 

Mclntire,  J,  J 40,  53,  106,  113-121,  251 

McKay,  E.  B 2^4 

McKee.  C.  H 55,  156","  158 

Mennonites 250 

Meredith,  E.  B 55,  230.234 

Mfthodists 35,  37 

Millville 67 

Mini^terial  Union 214 

Missionary  societies.  Relation  to 217-227 

Missionary  summary  of  last  decade 60-73 

Mitchell 50,  13S 

Montrose 253 

Morehouse,  Geo  233 

Morehouse,  Dr.  H.  L 75,  222 

Moraran,  Dr.  T.J. 222,  243 

Morse,  Benjamin .'...135 

Mound  City 1S8 

Mueller,  W.  H 190 

Newby,  I.  H 252 

Newell,  L.  M 55 

Newton,  F.  H 55 

Nordberg,  A.  B 54,  164,  171 

Norton,  H.  E 55 

North  Dakota,  First  settlement 17,  33 

North  Dakota,  First  religious  organizati6n..32 

North  Dakota,  Later  organizations 34,  46-47 

North  Dakota,  Benjamin  Terry,  murdered... 46 

North  Dakota,  James  Tanner,  missionary 46 

Northeastern  Association 205.209 

Northwestern  Association.. ..205-209 

Odell,  R.  J 252 

Oelrich 157 

Oldham 170,  1S5 

Olsen,  Jacob 142,  165,  169,  ifeo-182 

Olsen,  President  Edward.. 249 

Olsen,  P.  M J-..225 

Olthoff,  0 56,  1S7,  191-195 

Onida... '. ^ 66 

Orcutt,  A.  S 50 

Orleans  175 

Parker 41,  107,  119 

Parker,  Geo.  H ---55,  251 


11] 


INDEX. 


PAGE 

Parkston 50,  67,  190,  256 

Parsonages 260 

Patterson,  C.  N... 55 

Pembina. 26,  146 

Penski,  Aug-ust 247 

Peters,  T.  R 220 

Plan  of  co-operation 63,  215 

Plum  Creek 56,  196 

Population  of  Dakota  Territory  19,  21,  22,  29,  54 

Presbyterians 3S-37>  241 

Price,  A.  B 235 

Progress  of  the  work 48-59 

Pukwana  ._ 172 

Rapid  City 150,  155 

Ratio  of  Baptists  to  population 259-260 

Reed,  Isaiah  W 223 

Rockwood,  J.  E... 3S,  S6-95 

Rose _. 67 

Ross,  Walter 50 

Ross,  L. ..23S 

Roman  Catholics -^-33)  241 

Russian  Baptists ---5^,  64,  iS6-i9§ 

Saba,  A.  E 223 

Salem 67,  68,  193 

Sandquist,  E 54,  164 

Saunders,  J.  E 50 

Scandinavian  Association 55, 182 

Scandinavian  Baptists.. .39,41,64,  162-185 

Schaefer,T.J.. 188,  247 

Seventh  Day  Adventists 165,  167,  179 

Seventh  Day  Baptists ...163,  250 

Shanafelt,  T.  M... 61,  154,  218 

Shriner,  Wm 251 

Silene,  C ...164 

Sioux  Falls 27,  107,  124,  170,  212 

Sioux  Falls  College 213,  228-235 

Sioux  Falls  Association  .   ..205-209 

Sioux  Indians 238-244 

Smith,  Henry  W 160 

South  Dakota 26-32 

Admission  of.. 25 

Area 26 

First  settlements 27-2S 

First  religious  movements 34,35 

First  Baptist  missionaries 34,  37-39,  74-S5 

First  churches 34-36,  40-41 

Population --19,  21-24,  29-30,  54 

Spencer .'_ 256 

Spencer,  Dwight 153 

Spink  County 173 

Spirit  Mound 68,  256 

Spring  Valley 175 

Statehood  secured 23-25 

State  Convention 210-216 

State  Missions... 215,265 

State  University 236 

Statistical  Review.. 345-267 

Stone,  Prof.  H.  C 231,  268 

I 


PAGE 

Strandberg _. ,70 

StundistS jgy 

Summit __ 177 

Sunday  school.  First 37,  69 

Sunday  schools,  List  of ...253-254 

Sunday  school  statistics 70-253 

Sunday  school  missionaries 70,  223-224 

Sundt,J.  B 55,  170 

Sunnyside 112 

Sun  Prairie 171 

Sutherland,  O '.'.".224 

Sutherland,  John 225 

Swartz,  Andrew 164,  182 

Territory  organized ___ 21 

Territorial  officers ...21 

Tilgner,  A.  L ...igi 

Treaties  with  Indians 20,  29,  240 

Tremaine,  Dr.  John 69 

Trustees,  Sioux  Falls  College 232-233 

Turkey  Valley '      177 

Tychsen,Nils.. ...54,  16S,  173 

Tyndall   189 

Ufford,  E.  A 234 

Uline,  G.  A 233 

University,  State 236 

Valuation  of  church  property 260 

Verdon 67 

Vernon ---67,  177 

Vermillion 39,42,  70,  82,  92 

Wales,  B.  S 70,  223 

Walhalla 32,  34,  35 

"Walsh,  Prof.  F.J ---232,  234 

Ward,  David  P 70,  224 

Warner 67,  188 

Watertown ---5o 

Watson,  George 252 

Webb,  J.  N 49,  129,  134,  179,219 

Wescott,  C.  R .' 252 

Weddel,  P 222 

Weston,  M.  D 42 

Wheeler,  E.  G 224 

White 67 

Widen,  C.  M... 171 

Wild  Bill 160-161 

Wilkinson,  F.  H 158 

Williams,  Dr.  O.  A. 220 

Windom 67 

Winegar,  S.J. 55,  138 

Woods,  Dr.  H.  C 220 

Woman's  Foreign  Mission  Society 225 

Women's  Home  Mission  Society 226 

Woonsocket 67 

Yankton 34,  37,  39,  42,  75-85,  87,  92,  13C 

Yankton  and  Scotland 18S 

Young,  J.  H 40,  43,  105 

Zion 67,  68 


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